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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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THE 



NEW POTATO 
CULTURE 



As developed by the Trench System, by the judicious use of 

Chemical Fertilizers, and by the Experiments carried 

on at the Rural Grounds during the 

past ntteen years. 



i 



fc 



BY 



ELBERT S. CARMAN, 



Editor of The Rural New-Yorker, Originator of the Trench System and 
of the Potato "Rural New-Yorker No. 2." 



0^ COPYRIGHT ""V 



^ 



APR 6 189! '\ / I 



The Rural Publishing Company, 

TIMES BUILDING, NEW YORK. 









Copyright iRqi, by 
The Rural Publishing Company. 



ELECTROT', PED AND PRINTED BY 
J. HORACE MCFARLAND, HARRISBURG, PA. 



TO MY FRIEND 

SIR JOHN BENNET LAWES 

BART., LL. D., F. R. S., F. C. S. 
THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS 

RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. 

i 

BY PRIVATE LETTER, 

BY HIS NOBLE EXAMPLE, AND BY MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 

JOURNAL I HAVE EDITED DURING THE 

PAST FIFTEEN YEARS, HE HAS ENCOURAGED AND 

INSPIRED ME TO DO AS HE 

HAS DONE, THOUGH WITH FEEBLE SUCCESS. 

E. S. C. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



rOR the past fifteen years, during the growing season, 
I have given a part of my time to potato experimen- 
tation, in the hope that I might throw some additional 
light upon the various questions involved in the central prob- 
lem, "How to increase the yield without proportionately in- 
creasing the cost of production." It often happened that, in 
the soil of my home grounds, some hills would yield enor- 
mously, while others would yield little. What was this owing 
to ? What kind of manure or culture — what preparation of 
the soil would insure the maximum crop ? Would stable or 
cow manure, hen manure, or a compost of the three ? Would 
lime, plaster, salt, muck, wood ashes, muriate or sulphate of 
potash, bone, phosphatic rock, fish, flesh, blood, sulphate of 
ammonia, nitrate of soda, separately or in any combination, 
effect this? Would it be possible so to fit the soil as materi- 
ally to increase the yield ? What would be the best depth to 
plant the seed ? How much seed should be planted — single 
eyes, two, three, or four eyes ; half potatoes, whole potatoes, 
stem-ends or seed-ends ? Should the manure or fertilizer be 
placed under or over, and how much should be used? Should 
the soil he firmed ox rendered as loose and friable as possible? 



6 The New Potato Culture. 

These were the individual questions suggesting themselves 
which made up the central problem, "How can we increase 
the yield of potatoes without proportionately increasing the 
cost of production?" 

As experiments were carried on from year to year, it was 
found that the yield from this experiment plot was increased 
at the rate of from ioo to 600 bushels to the acre ; that por- 
tions yielded at the rate of over 1,000 ; that certain hills and 
certain varieties, treated . apparently the same as the rest, 
yielded over 1,500 bushels to the acre. Would it be possible 
to ascertain what the exact conditions were which gave such 
yields ? Would it be possible to approach them on acres in- 
stead of plots ? Would it be possible to furnish equivalent condi- 
tions to acres in an economical way ? 

The reader who has the patience to consider with some care 
the following pages, may judge for himself whether any ap- 
proach to a positive answer has been made by the results of 
the work herein placed before him. 

River Edge, Bergen County, New Jersey. 



CONTENTS 



PAOE 

Chapter I 13 

The Origin of the Trench System of Raising Potatoes. The 
" Potato Contest." How it Came About The " Contest" Plot. 
The Planting Begun and Finished. The Fertilizer Used. The 
Trenches. How far Apart. Hilling up Avoided. The Varie- 
ties Planted. Notes of Progress. A Perfect Stand. Incessant 
Rains. The First Intimation of Something Wrong. The Vines 
Die Prematurely. Applications of Various Insecticides. The 
Cucumber Flea-beetle Discovered to be the Cause. Not Con- 
fined to any Limited District. Previously Attributed to "Blight." 
Insecticides of no Effect to Kill the Insect — But they Hurt the 
Vines. Previous Treatment of the " Contest " Plot. The Re- 
sult. The Plot Measured by the Committee. Yield of the Sev- 
eral Seedlings. No. 3 Failed. Otherwise the Yield would have 
Exceeded the Rate of 700 Bushels to the Acre. Report of the 
Judges. 

Chapter II 20 

Failures, but Instructive Failures, The Second "Contest" 
Plot. Modifications. Favorable Conditions in Every Way. 
Notes of Progress. Flea-beetles in Great Numbers. All Sorts 
of Insecticides Used Without AvaiL Foliage Injured. The 
Kinds Planted. Premature Death of the Vines. The Yield. 
The Tubers not Half Grown, and a Large Proportion Decayed. 

Chapter III 24 

Another Failure on a Larger Scale, with its Teachings. Learn 
by Failures as well as by Successes. A Half-acre Trial on a 
Poor Soil. General Opinion that such Large Yields cannot be 
Produced on Extended Areas. May we not Double our Crops 
without Doubling the Cost of Raising them ? The Enemies of 
Great Yields. Potatoes Checked in their Growth never Yield 
Maximum Crops. The Fitting of the Half Acre. Plowed in 
the Fall and Potash and Phosphoric Acid Applied. Why Ni- 
trogen was not Applied in the Fall. The Trenches. Depth to 
Plant. Covering. Conservation of Moisture. Hilling-up to 
be Avoided. Why. Shallow Cultivation. Spring Work. A 



The New Potato Culture. 



Late, Cold, Wet Spring. An Injudicious Decision. Additional 
Fertilizers Applied. Frost-bitten Seed. One-eye Pieces Planted 
of Necessity. Number of Potatoes to the Barrel. The Kinds 
Planted. The Mulch. The Forms and Quantity of Nitrogen 
Applied. Partial Failure of the Seed. The Yield. The Cost. 

Chapter IV 31 

Mr. Terry's Views. Expectations not Realized. The Yields 
from Small Plots Deceptive. Mr. Minch's Great Yields Queried. 
The Author's Yields due to other Causes than the Trenches. Mr. 
Terry cannot see any Benefit from the Use of Fertilizers on his 
Land. The Advantages of Level Cultivation Set Forth. Few- 
er Green Potatoes. Reply to Mr. Terry. Evident reasons why 
as Large Crops cannot be Raised on Acres as on Selected Plots. 
Just as much to be Learned from Trials on Small as on Con- 
siderable Areas. The Small Plot may tell us Just what the Acre 
Needs. Why Farmers Prefer to "Hill-up." How Trenches 
Direct the Rainfall. Mr. Minch Explains. The Economy of 
Large Quantities of Manure. 

Chapter V 39 

Some Heavy Yields by the Trench Method. The "Women's 
National Potato Contest." Over 1,000 Entries. Prizes Award- 
ed. The Yields of the Prize-takers. The Trench System takes 
the First Prize in a full Acre Contest. The Prize won was 
$1,100 — the Yield was 738 Bushels. 

Chapter VI 42 

Conservation of Moisture. Importance of Rainfall. Inef- 
fectiveness of American Experiment Station Work. Sir J. B. 
Lawes. When and How first Induced to Write for the Ameri- 
can Farm Press. Governmental Action Precipitated thereby in 
the matter of Establishing Experiment Stations. Fundamen- 
tal Weakness of American Stations as at Present Conducted. 
Political Influences. ' 'Available " rather than ' ' Capable " men 
too often Chosen as Officers. Uncertain Tenure of Office. 
Conducting the same Experiments Year after Year Impracti- 
cable. Farmers are Solicited to Try the Effects of Mulching 
in a Small Way. Objections to the Trench Answered. Tread- 
ing on the Seed Pieces Condemned. Roots do not Issue from the 
Seed. Seed Potatoes, unlike true Seed, need a Loose, Mellow 
Soil. 

Chapter VII 47 

Experiments with Different Fertilizers, First Season. Single 
or Special Fertilizers. Fertilizers should not be Condemned 
because Fertilizer Constituents, used Separately, fail to In- 
crease the Crop. How to Find Out what your Land Needs. 
The Elements Deficient in the Soil must be Supplied. Wherein 
Fertilizers Differ from Manure. The Needs of this Particular 



Coyitents. 9 

PAGE 

Soil Plainly Shown. The Soil will Answer Questions if put in 
the Right Way The Natural Soil Yields. The Specially Fer- 
tilized Soil Yields. The Complete Fertilized Soil Yields. 
Tables and Comparisons. Second Season's Trial on different 
Land with the same Fertilizers and Fertilizer Constituents. A 
Soil that will " Not Grow Beans" without Manure A Hungry 
Soil. Tables. A Summary of Results. Third Season's Trial 
on a Change of Plots with Essentially the same Fertilizers and 
Fertilizer Constituents. To what Extent do Small or Thrifty 
Tops Correspond to the Crop of Potatoes ? Ratings Rarely 
Fail to Indicate When they (the Ratings) do Fail. Well 
Balanced Fertilizers never give a Luxuriant Growth of Vines 
without a Corresponding Growth of Tubers. Better Land than 
that of Preceding Trials and more Variable Results. The Land 
still Replies: "Give Me all Kinds of Food." A Letter from 
Sir J. B. Lawes respecting the Effects of Different Fertilizers. 
Artificial Fertilizers Profitable, if Judiciously Applied, in Po- 
tato Culture. Nine Crops of Potatoes in Succession Grown at 
Rothamsted. The Kinds and Amounts Fed. The Results of 
Nitrate Nitrogen and Ammonia Nitrogen the Same. The Loss 
of Nitrogen and the Necessity of a Liberal Supply. The Re- 
sults of Mineral Fertilizers alone only One-half those when 
Nitrogen is Added. The Quantity of Potash Required is very 
Large. The Color of the Leaves and Stems as Affected by Ni- 
trogen, by Minerals and by Both. Explanation. A Larger 
Crop of Potatoes Obtained with Minerals alone than with Ni- 
trogen alone. Wheat an Exception. Why. Instructive Tables ; 
Study them. The Minerals may Remain for Future Crops — 
the Nitrogen is Lost. Results of Experiments made at Roth- 
amsted on the Growth of Potatoes for Twelve Years in Succes- 
sion on the Same Land, as set forth by Dr. Gilbert. Twelve 
Years of Potato Culture without any Manure or Fertilizer. The 
Yield as Great, under this Exhaustive Treatment, as the Aver- 
age Yield of the United States. Nitrogenous Manures alone 
Barely Increase the Yield. The Slow Action of Farm-yard Ma- 
nure. The Marked Effects of an Addition of Nitrogen to Farm- 
yard Manure. Disease does not Increase by Continued Growth 
from Season to Season. Specific Gravity of the Potato an In- 
dication of Quality. Cook Potatoes with their Skins on. 

Chapter VIII 69 

The Effects of Different Quantities of "Complete" Fertil- 
izers on Potatoes. Fertilizers against Manure. Telling Effects 
of Fertilizers on Potatoes. They Increase the Yield more than 
does Stable Manure. Trial upon One-tenth of an Acre that had 
not been Manured in 15 Years. Smoother Potatoes from the 
Fertilizer. The Vital Question which each Farmer must Solve 
for Himself or be Left Behind in the Procession. The Yields 
from 220, 440, 880, 1,320, 1,760, 2,200 pounds of Fertilizer to 
the Acre. Sulphate of Iron Harmful. Averages. A Differ- 
ence of over 138 Bushels per Acre. In what Way is the Reader 
to turn the Results to His Own Advantage ? 



io The New Potato Culture. 



Chapter IX 79 

Shall the Fertilizer be placed Under or Over the Seed Pieces ? 
Its Importance Depends on the Method of Culture. Tables. 
Averages. The Second Year Results. General Summary. The 
Difference in Favor of the Fertilizer Over 9.68 Bushels per 
Acre. 

Chapter X 83 

Results of Planting Potatoes in Trenches of Different Depths. 
First Trial. Planted from Two to Ten Inches Deep. Second 
Trial. Third Trial. Summary of Averages. 

Chapter XI 87 

Nitrogen, especially Nitrate Nitrogen as in Nitrate of Soda. 
Its Effects when Applied Alone. May Farmers derive a Profit 
from its Use when Applied to Land Indiscriminately or as Farm 
Manure is Applied ? Joseph Harris's Views and the Author's 
Answer. Experiments. The Results, in a Partial Way, Justify 
Mr. Harris's Conclusions that the Average Potato Fertilizers 
of To day are too Low in Nitrogen, in so far as this Particular 
Soil may be Taken as a Guide. See to it that the Land is well 
Supplied with Minerals, and then Add Increasing Doses of Ni- 
trogen in an Experimental Way. 

Chapter XII 100 

Sundry Experiments. Potatoes Raised in Half Barrels. 
First, Pure Sand ; Second, Garden Soil ; Third, Three-quarters 
Garden Soil, One-quarter Cut Straw. Results. Experiment 
with Three Barrels. Barrels Half Filled, the Seed Potatoes 
Planted and Covered with a few Inches of Soil. As the Shoots 
Grow the Barrels are gradually Filled, Leaving the Seed Pieces 
16 Inches Below the Surface. Where would the Tubers Form ? 
The Root and Tuber-forming Growth. Blight. Results. Seed 
Potatoes Treated in Various Ways, and Fertilizers. Excessive 
Manuring. Effects of Salt. A New Way to Mulch Potatoes. 
"Valley Mulching." Pieces Placed on Top of the Soil and 
Covered with Mulch and Fertilized. Trenches Mulched, Fer- 
tilized and Not. Doubts Expressed as to Reported Yields. As 
High as "at the Rate" per Acre of over 1,800 Bushels, as Es- 
timated from a few Hills. The easy Method of Computing 
Yields with Accuracy. The Best Distance Apart for " Single- 
eye" Seed. Different Number of Eyes to a Piece, from Single 
to Four Eyes to a piece. Different Sized Pieces without Re- 
gard to Number of Eyes. Experiments to Determine how 
Much Flesh each Eye should Have. Seed-end against Stem- 
end. Shall the Distance Apart, of the Seed Pieces Planted, bs 
Proportionate to the Size of the Seed ? 



Contents j r 



PAGE 



Chapter XIII 115 

Size of Seed. Generalizations. Habit of the Variety to be 
Considered. Small Seed of some Kinds — Large of Others. No 
Positive Rule can be Given. Illustrations. The Loss from 
Missing Hills. Underground Development. Relations be- 
tween Few Eyes and Long Joints ; Bushy and "Leggy " Vines. 
True Roots and Tuber-bearing Stems. Absurd Names. Seed 
and Stem Ends might more Properly be Called Tip and Butt, 
or Top and Bottom. Potato Growth. How Stems are Modi- 
fied by Light and Air ; by Soil and Moisture. Limiting the 
Space for the Growth of Nodes and Tubers. Increase the Root 
System by Deeper Planting and a Mellow Soil. A Ten-story 
House may Occupy the same Ground Area as a One-story House. 
Again, as to *he Size of Seed-pieces. Every Variety differs in 
Number and Potency of Eyes, and must be Cut and Planted 
Accordingly. 

Chapter XIV 123 

Analysis of the Tubers and Vines. The Effects of Special 
or Single Fertilizers, and in Various Combinations. The Ef- 
fects of "Complete" Fertilizers. Stimulants. "Complete" 
Fertilizers not Necessarily Effective. A Familiar Talk with 
Farmers. Erroneous Conclusions as to Fertilizers. Why 
Farmers Condemn them. Food in the Soil, previously Inert, 
Rendered Available by Salt, Plaster, Lime, Etc. Forcing Land. 
Lashing it into Temporary Productiveness. "Complete" 
Fertilizers which Analyze the Same may Give very Different 
Results. Their Agricultural Value. Irrational Conclusions. 
How Money is Thrown Away. Farmers Conjured to use High- 
grade Fertilizers Adapted to the Needs of their Land. The 
Potato's Needs. The Difference. A Distinction without a 
Difference. Chemical Fertilizers are simply Concentrated 
Manures. 

Chapter XV 135 

Seedling Potatoes. How to Gather the Seeds, Plant them 
and Treat the Seedlings. Every Gardener and Farmer should 
Raise his Own Varieties. How to Select. Should we save 
Seed Potatoes from the most Productive Hills ? Why the same 
Variety Varies. Millions of Dollars spent for New Varieties 
that might Just as Well have been Raised at Home. Seed Balls 
or Fruit. Selection of Seed. Glass Structures not Necessary. 
A Sunny Window will Do. How to Transplant. After care. 
Avoid any Poisonous Application. Mosquito Netting. How 
we should Select the Seedling Potatoes. Immature Seed will 
give a Degenerated Crop. Immature Cuttings will Produce 
Comparatively Feeble Plants. Bud Variation. Select Seed- 
ling Tubers of the Shape Desired. How Seedlings from the 
same Seed may Vary. 



12 The New Potato Culhire. 

PAGE 

Chapter XVI 144 

Care of Seed. Exposing sound Seed to Light and Sun Before 
Planting. How to Detect ' ' Blind " Eyes. Lime as a Preserver. 
Handling. Poisoning. How a Perfect Stand may be Secured. 
The Views of Several Correspondents. The Importance of 
Shallow Cultivation and a Mellow Soil Emphasized. Paris 
Green. Mix it with Plaster, not with Water. Why ! Absur- 
dity of Picking off the Potato Beetles by Hand. 

Chapter XVII 149 

Miscellaneous. The Objections to Hilling-up. Mr. Hersey's 
Views as to Seed-end and Stem-end Seed ; as to Shape, An- 
swered. Brevities. Difficulty in Crossing Potato Flowers. Seed 
Sold by Seedsmen as "Hybrid" Seed, not Hybrid. Hybrids 
between the Alkekengi and Potato Sterile. Prof. Bailey's Ex- 
periments in Grafting the Potato on the Tomato and vice versa. 
An Explanation of the Effects and Non -effects of Plaster. 
Questions and Answers. Killing the Tops Lessens the Yield. 
Keeping Potatoes. Largest Yielders. How much Seed to the 
Acre ? Does it Pay to Buy Fertilizer Constituents and Mix 
them at Home ? Index. 



CHAPTER I. 



Origin of the Trench Method. 

IN THE back part of our home grounds is a garden-plot of about 
an acre. When we built upon the property (two acres in all), 
nearly twenty years ago, it was designed that this garden-plot 
should be given to small fruits — grapes, strawberries, raspber- 
ries, blackberries, currants, etc. — around the borders, while upon the 
central area it was proposed to raise potatoes and other vegetables 
for family use. This was somewhat before I had thought of "experi- 
ment grounds " or had associated myself with the farm paper with 
which I soon after became and have since been connected. The soil 
was a mellow loam that might well be defined as "just right" or, in 
more specific description, one that, while retentive of moisture, was 
yet well drained and neither too much inclined to an impervious clay 
nor, on the other hand, to a leachy sand. Of the fertility of this 
soil, nothing was known further than that it had been cropped for 
many years without manure — fertilizers were practically unknown. 

Our first season's essay proved to be a decided failure, though, in 
so far as we knew, our instructions were well carried out by the gar- 
dener. The potato "seed" (Early Rose) was planted in hills two by 
three feet apart without manure. The plot was fairly well cultivated, 
and the plants hilled-up according to the then popular way of raising 
potatoes. It was our hope (a confident hope, too,) to beat our neigh- 
bors, between whom, in the matter of all early vegetables, a friendly 
rivalry existed. 

The tops grew vigorously enough, and anything like a failure of the 
tubers was not thought of. That this plot should have yielded not 
over seventy-five bushels to the acre is a fact that I have often pon- 
dered over, while anything like a satisfactory explanation has never 

(13) 



14 The New Potato Culture. 

occurred to me. Assuming, at any rate, that this land was not over- 
well adapted to potatoes, their cultivation was not attempted for sev- 
eral seasons thereafter. 

At length, having engaged in farm journalism, and desirous of test- 
ing the new varieties of potatoes then announced in unqualified terms 
of praise in the seedsmen's catalogues of the day, I determined to 
ascertain what could be done in this uncongenial soil, and the " Trench 
System " was among the first of the experiments which were suggested. 

From that time until now this plot has been given to raising, in small 
trial-lots ranging from three or four to a dozen " hills,'' all the new 
varieties of which "seed" has been procurable. Probably the average 
number of trials during all these years would not be found to be less 
than seventy-five kinds for each season. The yields of these littl e 
lots varied remarkably — all the way from 150 to over 1,800 bushels to 
the acre. All were treated essentially alike, and reports were duly 
printed as to size, shape, color, yield and quality. The reports of 
the new kinds which gave a low yield were rarely made use of by the 
seedsmen, or others originating or introducing them, while the stupen- 
dous yields were given the most conspicuous publicity, greatly to my 
mortification in many cases. One of the most startling of these an- 
nouncements declared that 1,391? bushels per acre of the Green 
Mountain potato, had been raised by me. The truth was, that there 
were but three pieces (hills) planted, which yielded 17] lbs., or at the 
rate of 1,391.50 bushels to the acre ! So it transpired that the anoma- 
lous yields reported from season to season were doubted by many 
good people, and it was to prove what the trench method was really 
capable of doing that a "contest" was announced, the results and 
every step of which were to be open to public investigation. Be it 
said here that I have never claimed that this method is preferable in 
all sorts of soils, for the excellent reason that I have not tried it in all 
sorts of soils. Reasoning from what is known of the potato during 
its period of growth, the trench system would not increase the yield in 
a sandy, leachy soil in which the level of the ground water is low, as 
nothing can be gained by rendering the soil less capable of securing 
the needed store of moisture through the osmotic action which the 
crench modification helps to assure in more retentive soils. 

We have repeatedly, side by side, with and without fertilizer, tried 
this method and the usual way of raising potatoes, with the invariable 



Origin of the Tre?ich Method. 15 

result that the trenches have given a decidedly larger yield. More 
than this, in our trials any decided increase of fertilizers, by the new- 
method has given, as will be shown further on, a greater increase in 
yield than the same amount of fertilizer by the old way, which of it- 
self is an important consideration. It shows that in the one case the 
plant is able to appropriate the food supplied to a better advantage 
than in the other. 

Furthermore, as the results of liberal prizes offered in 1888 and 
again in 1889, it has been demonstrated that by far the heaviest yields 
on record have been produced by this method, which, in theory at any 
rate, seems to secure to the potato all that it needs in so far as it is 
in the power of man to do so. 

HOW THE "CONTEST" CAME ABOUT. 

During the winter of 1888 I made the statement in print that if I 
could not raise at the rate of over 700 bushels of potatoes to the acre 
on a given plot in my experiment grounds by what is known as the 
Rural Trench System of cultivation, let the season be favorable or 
unfavorable, I would forfeit $50 if an)' one would pay the same 
amount in case of my success — the money in either event to be donated 
for some charitable purpose. The challenge was accepted by Mr. 
Wilmer Atkinson, the editor of the Farm Journal, of Philadelphia, Pa. 

THE ." CONTEST " PLOT. 

Owing tv me lateness of the season, the "Contest" plot was not 
planted until April 20. The planting was begun at 7 a. m. At 8 a. m. 
a shower began which continued until the work was finished, causing 
the soil to become muddy on the surface. Previously (April gth) the 
seed potatoes were spread out singly in a warm room. The eyes of 
the " seed end " soon pushed, forming short, warty shoots. The eyes 
of the other portions of the potatoes grew but slightly. The object 
in placing the seed potatoes in a warm, light room was to secure the 
most vigorous seed. 

All potatoes, the eyes of which seemed dormant or feeble — "blind" 
as they are commonly called — were rejected. They were cut accord- 
ing to the number of strong eyes developed, the object being to have, 
at least, three to a piece. On April 18th, the trenches were dug with 



1 6 The New Potato Culture. 

a spade, about seven inches deep and a full foot in width. As we had 
not from experiments made determined whether it was better to strew 
the fertilizer under or over the "seed," it was sown both under and 
over. Eight hundred and eighty pounds were first evenly sown in the 
bottom of the trench, and incorporated with the soil by a Hexamer 
pronged hoe. On this, an inch or so of soil was raked, and the seed- 
pieces were placed exactly one foot apart, the trenches being three 
feet apart, measuring from the middle of each. These (the seed- 
pieces) were covered with another inch of soil, and powdered sulphur 
was scattered upon it at the rate of 400 pounds to the acre. Then an 
additional spread of the fertilizer (Mapes's Potato), at the rate of 880 
pounds to the acre, was given, making in all 1,760 pounds to the acre. 
The trenches were then refilled with the soil taken out, which, being 
looser than the rest, left the soil of the trenches higher than that 
between them. 

We have always been careful not to compact the trench soil any 
more than can be helped. The ridge left soon settles to the general 
level, and is so preserved during the season, as all hilling up is care- 
fully avoided. The plot was planted to the following varieties — alj 
seedlings of my own: 

No. 2 33 pieces — one trench. 

No. 3 66 " —two trenches. 

No. 4 66 " — " 

NOTES OF PROGRESS. 

May 15th. — Up to this time the rain-fall had been all that was needed. 
No. 3 was the first to appear above ground ; No. 4 next, and No. 2 
last. Frost occurred the 17th, and cold, constant rains followed up 
to May 30th. The soil was drenched. Lima beans and melon seeds 
rotted in the ground. There was a perfect stand of potatoes in the 
"contest'' plot. My note book of June 1st says: " Sifted Paris green 
and plaster — one pound of the poison to 200 pounds of the plaster. 
Soil compacted from incessant rains ; frost this morning." 

June 3d : "The plot cannot be cultivated between the plants because 
the tops meet and cover the soil." 

June 8th : " No. 2 was the last to push its shoots above the soil, and 



Origin of the Trench Method. 17 

the plants were for some time smaller than those of the 3 and 4. At 
this time they have outgrown No. 3. All are growing thriftily." 

THE FIRST INTIMATION OF SOMETHING WRONG. 

June 17th : "The vines are now meeting, so that further cultivation 
between the trenches is impossible without injury to the vines. No. 
3 vines are less thrifty than those of Nos. 2 or 4, and show signs 
of some weakness." 

June 25th : "The No. 3 vines seem to be dying, from some cause 
which we cannot even guess at. One says ' it is a mole that has gone 
through the trenches ;' another says ' it is a scald, owing to the terri- 
ble heat which followed upon a long term of cold, wet weather !' 
Another says 'it is the sulphur. You have given them too much.' 
The stems are weakly, the leaves yellowish. Some of the stems are 
turning black, and withering within an inch of the soil." 

June 3d : "Gave another application of Paris-green and plaster." 

After the above date all hope was lost of winning the contest. It 
was evident that No. 3 would be nearly a failure. The cause was 
discovered to be the 

FLEA BEETLE, 

known entomologically as Haltica cucumeris. The first suggestion 
came from our foreman, who said his own potato tops were dying, 
and that they were alive with fleas that were eating the leaves. 
" There are so many" said he, "that you can hear the noise they 
make when disturbed as I pass along the rows." 

The writer had noticed while sifting plaster and Paris-green that 
these insects existed in unusual numbers, but it did not occur to him 
that they were the cause of the mischief. An examination of 
neighboring fields was made, and all were found to be injured more 
or less. Later, as the facts were published, accounts from many 
parts of the country were received showing that the pest was not con- 
fined to any limited section. Many who previously attributed the de- 
struction of their potatoes to "blight" found that the flea beetle was 
really the culprit. 

Soon after the No. 3 was hurt beyond recovery, the No. 4 was at- 
tacked, and finally the No. 2. We sprayed the vines with Buhach- 
p. — 2 



1 8 The New Potato Culture. 

water, hellebore, Gishurst compound and Paris-green, but without the 
slightest helpful effect. 

PREVIOUS TREATMENT OF THE CONTEST PLOT. 

Potatoes had been raised on the piece of ground of which the "con- 
test" plot was a part, for 12 consecutive years. It had never re- 
ceived much manure. The applications of fertilizers each year have 
averaged, no doubt, at the rate of 1,200 pounds to the acre, for the 
most part Mapes's Potato, with which, as with other brands, noted 
further on, I had been carrying on experiments of various kinds 
during the entire period, upon considerable areas as well as upon 
small plots. 

Besides the potato fertilizer, the plot had received, at various times, 
small dressings of lime, wood ashes (leached and unleached), kainit 
and raw bone- flour. 

THE RESULT. 

Friday, the 28th of September, every member of the committee ap- 
pointed to determine the yield was present, together with some 40 
others from various parts of the country. Previous to digging the 
crop, the ground was carefully measured, to give accuracy to the 
computation. 

The No. 4 yielded at the rate of 644 bushels per acre. The No. 2 
yielded at the rate of 1,076 bushels to the acre. No. 3 was a com- 
parative failure, owing to the vines having been destroyed by the flea 
beetle. The yield was only at the rate of 276 bushels to the acre. 
As this potato occupied two- fifths of the entire plot, the yield was 
thus reduced to below 700 bushels to the acre. It will appear to the 
reader and was evident to the judges and others who were present 
that, had the whole of the plot been planted with No. 2, the yield 
would largely have exceeded 700 bushels to the acre, and the contest 
would consequently have been decided in our favor. 

REPORT OF THE JUDGES. 

"We, the undersigned committee, having been appointed for the 
purpose of calculating the yield of potatoes grown upon the ' con- 



Origin of the Trench Method. 19 

test plot' at River Edge, Bergen county, N. J., do hereby certify that 
we saw the potatoes dug and measured the yield thereof. We found 
it to be at the rate of 583 bushels per acre." 

T Peter Collier, 
j W. A. Stiles, 
Signed <[ J. C. Haviland, 
I L. C. Benedict, 
[ P. T. Quinn, 

Committee. 

Subscribed and sworn to this 28th of September, 1888, before me, 

John G. Webb, 
Justice of the Peace. 



CHAPTER II. 



Failures, but Instructive Failures. 

HAD THE " Contest plot" been inaugurated a year or so before 
it was, there could have been little fear of failure. It was 
not until the first contest season that either blight or the flea 
beetle injured the crop materially. These devastators were, 
before that time, practically unknown. 

A renewed effort was made the next year to produce at the rate of 
over 700 bushels to the acre. The wager of $200 was offered in our 
confidence that it could be done and, though the offer was widely pub- 
lished, there was not one to accept it, though, as in the first contest, 
the money was to have been given for some benevolent purpose. 

THE SECOND CONTEST PLOT. 

Trenches were dug April 6th, 10 inches deep and wide, 11 in num- 
ber, each $$ feet long and three feet apart. Twenty-five pounds of the 
same potato fertilizer as previously used ( 1 , 000 pounds to the acre) were 
then sown broadcast, walking through the trenches — not in the trenches 
alone, but over the soil piled up between the trenches as well. The 
bottom of each trench was then loosened with a Hexamer pronged hoe. 
Five inches of soil were then raked back into the trenches and on this 
the seed-pieces (half of medium sized potatoes with the seed-end cut 
off) were placed exactly one foot apart, making ^ in each trench, or 
363 in the entire plot. Such large seed-pieces were never used before. 
The trenches were never before dug quite so deep and never before 
placed upon so great a depth of mellow soil. This work was done in 
a perfect manner, as the weather was fine and the soil in splendid con- 
dition to work. The trenches were filled, being careful to fill one at 

(20) 



Failures, hit Instructive Failures. 21 

a time and complete it so that the work could be done without walking 
on the completed trenches. Never was there a mellower seed-bed. 

NOTES OF PROGRESS. 

•'May 7th. — To-day flea beetles were noticed in great numbers. 
Some of the plants were four inches high, others just breaking through. 
Sprayed all with tobacco soap dissolved in water, using two ounces to 
a pailful of water. Not effective. 

" May 8th. — Sprayed the plants with water in which tobacco-stems 
had been boiled ; also with whale-oil soap-water, one ounce to one 
gallon of water. 

" May 9th. — Used Thymo-cresol and Paris-green and water. Corn 
cobs were dipped into crude carbolic acid and one placed between 
every two plants. Not effective in the least. 

" May 10th. — A cyclone, attended with heavy rain. In the evening 
after the storm, as many flea beetles were noticed as before the storm. 

"May 12th. — One tablespoonful of hellebore, one heaping table- 
spoonful of buhach, 25 drops of sulphuric acid, one teaspoonful of 
Paris-green to a pailful of water were sprayed on the vines. No effect. 

"May 14th. —Two teaspoonsful of Thymo-cresol, a heaping tea- 
spoonful of Paris-green to a pailful of water sprayed on the plants. 

"The leaves now began to show some injury from these applications. 

" May 17th. — Fleas thicker than ever. Applied Bordeaux Mixture 
on half the plot, and on the other aloes dissolved in hot water, four 
ounces to two gallons. The fleas seemed delighted with both. 

" May 22d. — It was plainly to be seen that the R. N.-Y. No. 3 plants 
(second trench) were dying. It was decided to dig them up and plant 
' Minister ' instead. A few days after, several rows were dusted with 
unleached wood-ashes. The fleas the next day were not so numerous 
upon the dusted plants. They preferred the plants not dusted. Later 
.the plants of the entire plot were first sprayed with water and then a 
mixture of the following was sifted upon them : Paris-green, two 
pounds, extended with one barrel of plaster ; sifted unleached ashes ; 
one-eighth pound of snuff, making in all a quarter of a barrel in the 
proportion of two thirds ashes and one-third poisoned plaster. This 
was found to repel the fleas somewhat. 

"June 16th. — Excessive rams up to this time. The vines have 
made a fine growth. 



The New Potato Culture. 



"July 23d. — Excessive rains up to this time. Soil saturated, 
variety is more or less injured by the flea beetle. 
"July 30th. — Vines dying.'' 



Every 



THE KINDS PLANTED. 



Trench No. 1 Seedling No. 2 33 pieces. 

" 2 " No. 3 33 

" 3 " No 4 33 

" 4 " No 4 33 

" 5 " No 4 33 

" 6 " No. 4 33 

" " 7 Brownell's Winner 33 

" " 8 Monroe County Prize 33 

" " 9 From J. H. Woodburn, Sterling, 

111 11 

" " 9 New Queen 22 

" " 10 Seedling of Rose, from Thos. 

Lazell, Big Rapids, Mich. . . .22 

" " 10 Tonhosks, from Theron Piatt, 

Newtown, Conn 11 

" " 11 Brownell's Winner 33 



THE YIELD. 

No. 2 yielded 63 pounds, or at the rate of 454.66 bushels to the 
acre. They seemed to be about half grown. There were few rotten 
potatoes. 

Minister yielded 32 pounds, or at the rate of 234.66 bushels to the 
acre. Many small ; many rotten. 

No. 4 (third row) yielded 53 pounds, or at the rate of 388.66 bush- 
els to the acre. Many rotten ; half grown. 

No. 4 (fourth row) yielded the same as the preceding, 53 pounds. 

No. 4 (fifth row) yielded the same within a fraction. 

Brownell s Winner (seventh row) yielded 38 pounds, or at the rate 
of 278.66 bushels per acre. Many rotten ; all small. 

Monroe County Prize yielded 6^ pounds, or at the rate of 462 bush- 
els to the acre. Many rotten. 

Woodburn Seedling yielded five pounds. There were 11 hills. 
This was at the rate of no bushels per acre. 



Failures, but Instructive Failures. 23 

New Queen, 22 pieces, yielded 48 pounds, or at the rate of 469.33 
bushels to the acre. The tubers were small but there were a great 
number. 

Seedling Rose yielded 71 pounds or at the rate of 520.66 bushels to 
the acre. 

Brownell's Winner (duplicate row) yielded 71 pounds or at the rate 
of 520.66 bushels to the acre. This last row was planted with seed 
from Mr. Brownell, while the other row was planted with seed raised 
here last year, which did not fully mature owing, as stated under the 
first contest account, to blight and flea beetles. 

THE ENTIRE YIELD 

was 549 pounds, without making any allowance for decayed tubers, 
which is at the rate of 367 bushels to the acre. Taking the whole 
lot, probably over one-fourth were rotten, while the sound potatoes 
were not over one-half the usual size. 

To what extent the premature death of the vines was due to fleas, 
to excessive rain or to fungoid causes, we were unable to form any 
opinion. 



CHAPTER III. 



Another Failure on a Larger Scale, with its Teachings. 

THERE is little doubt about it that thoughtful farmers may 
learn as well by failures as by successes. It is for this rea- 
son that we dwell upon the failure of our repeated endeav- 
ors to raise over 700 bushels to the acre, or at that rate. 
We have now to record a failure — the most disastrous, perhaps, of 
any attempted, though others have since demonstrated that by this 
very " trench method " the claims made for it are by no means chim- 
erical — the crops having been raised in localities not infested with the 
flea beetle and blight. The trial to be recorded was made upon a meas- 
ured half-acre of an impoverished soil. 

The yields of from 1,000 to i,8oo bushels of potatoes to the acre 
(at those rates) raised on specially prepared plots in my experiment 
grounds of rich, garden soil, have called out various comments from 
many editors of the press. That we have actually raised such yields 
need not have been doubted, since the potatoes (of the largest yield 
and several others nearly as great) were dug and weighed in the pres- 
ence of several well-known horticulturists or farmers, who were visit- 
ing here at the time. But all agree that such yields cannot be raised 
on large areas except at a cost exceeding their profitable production. 
It may be that neither 1,000 nor even 700 bushels of potatoes can be 
profitably raised upon an acre of land. But from our persistent tests 
with various methods of culture, the question is raised whether we may 
not at least double our potato crops without doubling the cost of 
raising them. The two great enemies of immense yields are, first, 
drought and, second, an insufficient supply of available food. Now, this 
new method is to supply the food in abundance, and to so conserve 

(24) 



Another Failure on a Larger Scale. 25 

moisture as to carry the plants through the season without a check in 
their growth — for potatoes that are checked in their earlier growth 
never yield largely, no matter what the subsequent weather may be. 

In order to test this question, whether or not by our method we 
could raise a large, paying crop on an extended area, a half- acre of 
very poor land (not capable of yielding 100 bushels to the acre with- 
out manure) was given its preparatory fitting. The land was perfectly 
level and naturally well-drained, consisting of a sandy loam quite im- 
poverished by constant cropping, having received but at the rate of 15 
tons of farm manure to the acre in many years, and that in one ap- 
plication four years prior to this trial. An exact half -acre was measured 
off and plowed eight inches deep, on the 26th of November. The 
next day it was harrowed, and on the 28th the following fertilizers 
were spread broadcast, no farm manure whatever being used : 

600 pounds of bone-black superphosphate, furnishing 25 per cent, 
of soluble and available phosphoric acid. 

400 pounds of sulphate of potash, furnishing 50 per cent, of sulphate 
of potash, and 40 per cent, of sulphate of magnesia. 

400 pounds of kainit, furnishing 40 per cent, of sulphate of potash, 
and common salt. 

The cost of the above fertilizers was $44 per acre, or $22 for the 
half acre. 

On the afternoon of the same day the land was again harrowed, so 
as to incorporate the fertilizer with the surface soil and prevent its 
being blown off in case of high winds. 

It will be seen that in the above fertilizers there is no ammonia or 
nitrogen. Either of these would have been washed through the soil 
ere planting time the next Spring, while it was assumed that the 
potash and phosphoric acid would be retained. In the Spring it was 
proposed to sow more of both potash and phosphoric acid, and also a 
liberal quantity of nitrate of soda. 

The object of the trench system of potato raising is two-fold : first, 
to give a mellow, porous soil for the growing tubers. It is claimed 
that any considerable pressure upon them must have some effect to 
mar their shape and dwarf their size. The tuber takes no part in the 
nourishment of the plant, but must itself be nourished by the plant 
and its roots. If, therefore, when and after the tubers begin to form, 
the plants do not receive an abundance of food, their further growth 



26 The New Potato Culture. 

must cease, or at least be checked. But without moisture the food 
in the soil is unavailable, no matter how great soever may be the 
supply. Hence, therefore, second, the trench system, it is maintained, 
retains moisture during periods of dry weather, when the soil as ordi- 
narily treated would dry out. The trenches must be plowed (or in 
small plots, spaded) at least 12 inches wide and six deep. The land 
should always be plowed in the Fall so that it may be friable and 
light in the Spring. Choose large tubers, cut them in larger or smaller 
pieces according to the variety, giving them all the flesh possible, and 
place them about one foot apart and at least four inches deep in the 
trenches, which should be about three feet apart. Cover them with an 
inch or so of soil, throwing it on with as little compaction as possible. 

Now, if it is desired to guard against the effects of severe drought, 
a spread of coarse marsh hay, or something of the kind, after being 
run through a cutter, may be spread over this soil in the trenches two 
inches deep. The fertilizers should then be strewn evenly over the 
hay, and the trenches filled, always as lightly as possible, and ridged 
up with the soil taken out of them. A rain or so will settle this ridge 
nearly to a level with the rest. If the land is not liable to be affected 
by dry weather, the hay mulch, should of course, be omitted. It 
will be found that the mellow soil of the trench, which readily admits 
even the lightest rains which fall, and, indeed, heavy dews, will ma- 
terially help to resist the effects of moderately dry periods. Perhaps, 
too, the moisture condensed from the air which the porous soil ad- 
mits, should be taken into the account. 

Hilling-up under this system is not only unnecessary but decidedly 
injurious. The potatoes are planted as deep in the soil as they ever 
need to be. They receive at once the benefit of rain, which, under 
the hilling method, is in great part carried off between the hills. The 
growth of the vines will be found so rapid that few weeds ever start 
between the plants ; while between the rows, shallow cultivation, 
{never deep) may be given as needed to free the land from weeds and 
preserve a mellow surface. As with our system of corn culture, I hold 
that plowing destroys many of the roots, all of which are needed 
to feed the plants. 

THE YIELD OF THE POOR-SOIL HALF-ACRE OF POTATOES. 
The lay of the half acre is perfectly level, as just stated, save that 



Another Failure on a Larger Scale. 27 

it dishes a little near the middle where it needs draining. Up to date 
the expense for work and fertilizer was $26.20. 

The spring opened so late that it was April 16th before work 
could be continued, and even then it was questioned whether it would 
not be wiser to wait awhile and take the chances of planting too late 
rather than attempt to prepare a soil which was still cold and wet. 
But the latter course was injudiciously decided upon. Two bags 
(400 pounds) of Mapes's Potato fertilizer were sown and the land 
harrowed east and west. The land was then marked north and 
south, the marks three feet apart. The trenches were made four 
inches deep (they should have been deeper) with a Syracuse shovel 
plow, which did not serve the purpose as well as was desired. 

THE SEED PIECES. 

It was intended to plant only Hodgman Seedling and Green 
Mountain potatoes, as these in our rich soil plots had given the great- 
est yields of any up to that time. Ascertaining at the last moment, 
however, that but one barrel of seed of the Green Mountain could be 
procured, it was determined to make the Hodgman seed go as far as 
possible and to fill out with other kinds. The Hodgman seedling pota- 
toes were found to have been frost-bitten in their passage from New 
Hampshire. They were cut to one eye generally, though two would 
have been preferred. The two barrels of seed contained 1,346 pota- 
toes, which, placing one piece every foot in the trench, planted 21 of 
the 37 trenches of the plot. In the next nine rows, Green Mountain 
seed was planted. Then followed other kinds, which will be noted 
further on. The pieces were covered with a hoe with an inch of soil, 
and upon this soil a further application of potato fertilizer was given 
at the rate of 800 pounds to the acre. 

THE MULCH 

consisting of course swamp hay, was run through a cutter and cut in 
about two-inch lengths. This was strewn over the fertilizer two 
inches thick from wall to wall of the trench. The soil was then hoed 
over the mulch, forming ridges two inches above the surface, which 
soon settled nearly to a level with the adjacent soil after a few rains. 
The cost of the coarse meadow hay used was about $3 a ton. It 
was estimated that one ton would mulch an acre, the trenches being 



28 The New Potato Culture. 

15 inches wide and three feet apart, measuring from the middle of 
each. The entire cost of the hay, cutting and distributing it in an 
economical way when entire accuracy, regardless of cost, is not 
aimed at, was estimated at $12 per acre. 

NITROGEN 

was applied in the three forms (mixed together) of blood, nitrate of 
soda, and sulphate of ammonia, at the rate of 400 pounds to the 
acre, as soon as most of the sprouts showed above the ground. This 
was broadcasted, the land receiving immediately afterwards a shallow 
cultivation. 

THE WEATHER 

continued cold, with frequent showers. Most of the pieces, however, 
had sprouted by June 10, except the Hodgman Seedling. It was 
thus early evident that tbis portion of the plot — 2i-37ths of the half 
acre — would prove a failure. Only here and there could a sprout be 
seen, while the pieces not sprouted were either quite hard or else 
were rotting in the ground. Probably not over two-thirds of the 
seed pieces ever sprouted, and one-third of these were so late in 
sprouting that no tubers formed — not even small ones. The weather 
suddenly changed to excessive heat — the hottest of the season — and 
drought set in. The stems were very large, the foliage so ample 
that all the land was entirely covered, except that occupied by the 
Hodgman Seedling. All who saw the plants at this time, with their 
luxuriant, dark-green leaves, predicted a fine success for the trench 
method — a prediction, which I grieve to say, was not fulfilled. 

The yield is presented below which will scarcely need verification 
as "doubting Thomases "rarely doubt the results of experiments 
which turn out agreeably to their views. 

To have admitted, however, that we ourselves by this failure were 
convinced that the principles of this system of potato culture were in 
fault, would have been premature. While it certainly did fail that 
season and under the unfavorable conditions as stated, it has suc- 
ceeded since far beyond the extra cost of its practice, as will be 
shown directly. 

THE YIELD. 

Beyond the half acre, a trench was plowed in order to test the 
natural fertility of the soil as well as the effects of a comparatively 



Another Failure on a Larger Scale. 29 

small quantity of fertilizer, both without mulch. Hodgman Seed- 
ling from our own seed (not frost-bitten) was planted. The seed not 
fertilized, yielded 163 bushels per acre. The seed fertilized (at the 
rate of 400 lbs. Mapes's Potato fertilizer per acre), yielded 1S5 bush- 
els per acre, showing an increase of 24 bushels for the fertilizer. 

The State of Maine, the first row of the plot proper (east) yielded 
at the rate of 240 bushels to the acre, the weight of potatoes dug 
from this row being 180 pounds. This row, as well as eight others, 
was 13 feet shorter than the rest, on account of the interference of 
an apple tree. 

Seedling No. 1. There were two rows (Nos. 2 and 3) of this, which 
together yielded but 195 pounds. This was at the rate of 130.25 
bushels to the acre. 

The Corliss Matchless (row No. 4 and a part of row No. 5) yielded 
150 pounds, or at the rate of 184 bushels to the acre. 

The Underwood (116 pieces, row 5) yielded 115 pounds, or at the 
rate of 238 bushels to the acre. 

The Greenleaf (98 pieces, parts of rows 5 and 6) yielded 75 pounds, 
or at the rate of 184 bushels to the acre. 

The Bonanza (78 pieces, row 6) yielded 65 pounds, or at the rate 
of 200.40 bushels to the acre. 

The Montreal (85 pieces, parts of rows 6 and 7) yielded 86 pounds, 
or at the rate of 243.26 bushels to the acre. 

The rest of the row No. 7 was an experiment to ascertain whether 
anything is gained by rolling the cut surface in plaster and keeping 
the pieces one week before planting, over planting freshly-cut seed 
without plaster. The 60 pieces (Green Mountain) plastered and kept 
a week before planting, yielded 248 tubers (204 marketable) which 
weighed 59J pounds. This is at the rate of 238 bushels to the acre. 
The 90 pieces (Green Mountain) planted as soon as cut without 
plaster, yielded 493 tubers (347 marketable), which weighed 105 
pounds. This is at the rate of 280.58 bushels to the acre — the larg- 
est yield of all. 

We come now to the nine full rows of Green Mountain. The yield 
was 27} bushels of 60 pounds, which is at the rate of 224.05 to the 
acre. 



30 The New Potato Culture. 

Finally, we have 21 rows of the Hodgman Seedling from the 
frosted seed. The yield was but 24J bushels, which is at the rate 
of but 86 (85.74) bushels to the acre. 

THE COST. 

Not counting the cost of harvesting the crop or of the rent of the 
land, or of the writer's time and labor, we estimated the cost of rais- 
ing this half acre of potatoes at not less than $60. The entire crop 
would not that year have sold for more than $40. 



CHAPTER IV 



Mr. Terry's views. Small plot trials condemned. Mr. Mincb 
criticised. Ineffectiveness of fertilisers on Mr. Terry's land. 
Reply. How the yield of acres may be made to equal those 
of small plots. Mr. Mincb' s reply to Mr. Terry. 

1L A R. T. B. TERRY, of Hudson, Ohio, is well-known to many 
I ▼ 1 of the farmers of the country as a very successful potato 

I \ grower. It may interest and instruct my readers if I here 

reproduce a correspondence which occurred between him 

and the writer regarding large yields in general, and the trench method 

in particular. 

MR. TERRY'S REMARKS. 

" Will you allow me to say that I am not quite satisfied with your 
potato wager as it now stands ? 

" If the four little words, ' at the rate of were left out, and the 
rest read, that you will raise over 700 bushels per acre, on say five 
acres, this season, then would I clap my hands for joy. Every pota- 
to grower in the country would be deeply interested ; that is, if he 
had any progress about him. Should you win such a wager, or 
come near it, the writer would go to New Jersey both on purpose to 
see the potatoes and the ground with his own eyes. Very many 
others would do the same and be benefited. I have long been trying 
to get just a sight. Once the realization seemed near. ■ I read of a 
man who was digging some 600 bushels per acre, on two acres. I 
wrote him immediately and asked if the report was true, and if so, 
might I come and see some dug ? His reply completely cooled off 
my ardor. He wrote : 'I have two a'cres of potatoes that will yield 

(3i) 



32 The Nezv Potato Culture. 

some 600 bushels, not 600 per acre.' This has always been my luck 
when I have tried to see big yields. 

" I do not doubt the yields reported by you ; but I do wish the ex- 
periments could be on a large scale. Thousands of growers would 
thank you most heartily. We farmers who live by our crops cannot 
make much out at thorough experiment work. I wish our experiment 
stations would experiment with farm crops by the acre instead of lit- 
tle plots of a few rods. Our Ohio director thinks well of this plan, 
and we hope for something valuable from him in the future. 

" Everyone knows there is a great difference in the yield of small 
plots and the average of whole fields. The yields of Mr. Minch by 
vour trench system show something of this. He had 650 bushels per 
acre on two acres (would that I could have seen them) ; 400 per acre 
on two others, and an average of little over 300 per acre on 22 acres, 
which I suppose included the first four. Now what we farmers want 
to know is why did he not average 650 bushels per acre on the 22 
acres ? Why did two acres produce double the average of the field ? 
Has he learned, so that next time, the season being as favorable, he 
can bring the whole field up to this high point ? I have obtained a 
yield, on small plots, measured before witnesses, at the rate of 400 to 
500 bushels per acre, but have never been able to bring a whole 
field up to Mr. Minch's average. From my experience I should say 
that your success was due to heavy manuring, hand culture, absence 
of hills, rather than to the trenches. If the soil was all mellow and 
fine, I cannot see what possible advantage a trench 15 inches wide 
and four deep could have over one four inches wide and the same 
depth, except that the fertilizer could be put in a broader space, as 
the first hard rain would in either case, on my soil, settle all ground 
about alike. As for manure, one can hardly lay too much stress on 
the value of it. To those liberal doses, year after year, you largely 
owe your success. I only wish I could use 1,200 pounds of potato 
fertilizer per acre and make it pay ! But the singular thing is that I 
cannot see one particle of benefit from its use. I have tried the same 
kind you are using on rows clear through a large field put on in nearly 
the same way, and at the rate of 1,000 pounds per acre, and never 
could tell from the growth of the vines or the yield of the tubers 
where it was put. 

" N.ow, in hand culture, with the hand Planet cultivator you speak 



Criticising the Contests. 33 

of, I can see that it has an advantage over field culture, where a horse 
is used. Having the soil mellow and loose so as to supply a ' yielding 
medium,' which you speak of, is a matter of great importance. A 
man walking between the rows when the soil is reasonably dry would 
not disturb the yielding medium, nor even pack the ground where he 
walked very much. 

" When one harrows with a team, and then rolls and plants with 
a planter and horses (and it is the same when he marks out and covers 
with a planter and horses), then harrows some three times to kill weeds, 
then cultivates six to eight times with horses, he will find his yielding 
medium considerably injured. I have caused a horse to step on the 
ground where potato hills were to be, after the seed was planted, and 
then compared the yield with that of hills in the next row that were 
not tramped on, and it was largely in favor of the latter. We take 
great pains to keep the horses in the center between the rows, when 
harrowing and cultivating. Ridges over the rows or drills enable us 
to do this when harrowing. The ground is worked but little before 
planting, partly for this reason. We are also very careful to work 
the ground only when it is quite dry. A horse will not then pack it so 
very much worse than a man. In all these ways we study to keep a 
yielding medium for the potatoes to expand in ; but practically we 
cannot do it as well as you do by hand. 

"I shake hands with you on the level culture, or nearly so, that 
you practice! But do you know that the. majority make high hills yet ? 
If they would only stop to think a moment, they would give away their 
shovel plows, as the writer did years ago. On a field cultivated level, 
and the surface all mellow, the rain goes right down where it falls, 
wetting all the soil, and carrying what fertility it has in it right to the 
growing roots that extend all through between the rows. Where a 
shovel plow is used before a heavy shower, much of the water runs 
off in the furrows, carrying its fertility with it. The ground in the 
hills, instead of being a ' yielding medium ' often gets so dry and 
hard that the yield is injured. Level soil will withstand drought best. 
In a wet season potatoes will stand hilling better, but on drained land 
even then hills are an injury. When one takes soil from between the 
rows to pile up around the hills, he is laying bare, or nearly so, the 
roots that are alone in the center. This is abusing the plants, and 
P-— 3 



34 The New Potato Culture. 

on drained land I know of no possible benefit to be derived. Better 
plant about four inches deep and keep the ground nearly level. In 
practice I have to throw a little dirt in under the plants, with the 
Planet horse-hoe; but we keep the surface as nearly level as pos- 
sible. After raising many thousands of bushels in this way we find 
no more greened or sunburned than when we hilled up high ; in truth 
I think not so many. 

'•If farmers would pay close attention to these points another 
season they will have cause to rejoice, \\z. : Plenty of suitable food, 
as little packing of the soil when working as possible, and level (sen- 
sible) culture. Then I would add such tillage as will give the crop 
the most benefit from the moisture in the soil, or save the most moist- 
ure for the crop. After all the t main point is the one brought 
out by you : ' Every farmer does not act upon his knowledge.' It is 
not how much do we know, but how much use do we make of our 
knowledge.'' 

REPLY. 

We are pleased to receive the above from a farmer who is renowned 
as a potato grower. It is also to be regretted that we are obliged to 
answer " at the rate of" instead of " per acre." The reason is this : 
Offering a wager was thought of only a few months prior to the pro- 
posed "contest" and, therefore, too late to give the fall preparation 
to the land which is deemed essential to great potato yields. Again, 
it has often been doubted whether we ever did or could raise the large 
crops, even upon small areas which we have so often reported. Fur- 
thermore, it was our desire to use for seed my seedlings Nos. 2, 3 and 
4 for this particular trial, and of these we had very limited quantities, 
no more than enough to plant 100 hills of any, or more than 200 hills 
in all, which would take about all of the plot that we were prepared 
to spare. We have never held that proportionately as many potatoes 
could be raised on an acre of land as upon a selected portion of that 
acre, for the reason that it is hard to find an acre or more of land of 
uniform lay, composition and fertility. It is simply held that by em- 
ploying certain methods the yield of potatoes can be greatly increased 
as well in field as in plot culture, and profitably increased. We have 
never known just how much importance to attach to the trenches. 
Mr. Terry, until of late years, has not been familiar with our experi- 



Criticising the Contests. 35 

ment work, and, of course knows nothing whatever of the trials to de- 
termine how much the trenches, of themselves, increased the yield. 
In every trial made, the land laid out in trenches, whether with or 
without fertilizer or manure, has largely outyielded that planted ac- 
cording to the old method of planting in furrows or hills. Every one 
knows, it is true, the great difference between the yields of small plots 
and the average of whole fields. This difference is unavoidable, and 
it must ever be, unless the poorest parts of a field are by manure, 
drainage, or in some other way rendered as suitable to potato culture 
as the best parts of the field. We may increase the yield of the poorest 
parts by special means, such, for example, as by the trench system ; 
but if one portion of a field is liable to suffer more from drought than 
another, or if other parts are imperfectly drained, we may rarely hope 
to obtain the best yields from those parts. It is not absurd to say 
that just as much may be learned from the culture of potatoes on 
small plots as on acres. The small plot tells us just what the acre 
needs, and we have only to supply all the wanting conditions to make 
the latter as productive as the other. It may be doubted if ever any 
one can discover a method of raising maximum crops of potatoes, or 
of anything else, unless every need of the crop grown is fully supplied. 
It may be assumed, however, that the full needs of the potato are not 
fully understood or, if understood, it has been supposed that it will 
not pay to supply them. Twelve years ago no one could have made 
hs believe that one day we would raise at the rate of 1,000 bushels 
per acre on a plot of one-fortieth of an acre. With 60 different kinds 
of potatoes planted in every way we could think of, and well cared for, 
the largest yield was less than at the rate of 350 bushels per acre. 
Not until the trench method was hit upon did we succeed in obtaining 
these great yields. We do not pretend to understand the effect or 
action of this system any further than that it seems to conserve moist- 
ure and to assist in carrying the plants through droughts which would 
otherwise check their growth ; the depth at which the seed-pieces are 
placed, the yielding medium by which they are surrounded may all 
play a part, while the food seems to be placed just where it feeds the 
plants most effectively. 

Mr. Terry asks why Mr. Minch under the trench system did not 
average 650 bushels per acre on 22 acres instead of on two acres ? 
Our reply would be that he did not or could not supply all the con- 



36 The New Potato Culture. 

ditions to the 22 acres that existed on the two acres. But he did raise 
an average of 300 bushels on the 22 acres, and is not this of itself a 
splendid triumph for this method ? The thing for Mr. M. to do now 
is to endeavor to supply to all of the 22 acres the favorable conditions 
which exist in the two acres, or to come as near to it as possible. 

If the soil of an entire field were all "mellow and fine" alike, we 
cannot see any clearer than Mr. Terry can what advantages a trench 
would give. But this is not in practice the case. The plowing or 
digging of the trench gives additional tilth and pulverization to the 
extent that in harvesting the crop we can often see the boundary be- 
tween it and the abutting soil. We are inclined to think that on most 
soils the first hard rain would not settle all the soil alike, but that the 
trench soil would still remain somewhat less compact until the vines 
grew large enough to cover the trench, when they would protect the 
soil more or less from further compaction. 

"To those liberal doses of manure you largely owe your success." 
If this is the explanation it is of the highest importance to farmers, 
since the increased crop pays for the manure ten times over, and acres 
as well as plots may be treated in the same way. 

Yes, indeed, we know that the majority of farmers about us in New 
Jersey and Long Island " make high hills yet." The reason assigned 
is that the crop is far more easily dug, while the tubers burn less. 

"On a field cultivated level and the surface all mellow, the rain 
goes right down where it falls, wetting all the soil and carrying all the 
fertility it has right to the growing roots.'' That is what I have been 
harping on for twelve years, not only in potato, but in corn culture. 
It was a part of our system when, on five acres, over 120 bushels of 
shelled corn were raised per acre, the yield having been measured by 
half a dozen disinterested and well-known persons. 

Now it seems to us that the trenches tend to direct the rainfall so 
that the moisture first reaches the roots where they are the most nu- 
merous- and here, too, the fertilizer exists in abundance, while the 
porosity of the trench soil helps to retain the moisture, and the shelter- 
ing leaves retard the surface evaporation. 

Finally, Mr. Terry, in the face of your statement that potato ferti- 
lizers do not increase your yield, and that you have not much faith in 
the efficacy of the trench, we beg to make the request that you will 
plow at least one trench across your potato field (after it is otherwise 



Criticising the Contests. 37 

fitted) of the depth and width stated ; that you will cover the seed- 
pieces lightly with soil — just barely to conceal them — and then spread 
evenly in this trench, throughout its length and breadth at the rate 
of 1,000 or 1,200 pounds per acre, of a high grade, well-balanced po- 
tato fertilizer, and that you will publish the results. 

MR. MINCH EXPLAINS. 

"I was much interested in Mr. Terry's article and your remarks 
following were read with profit. For the benefit of Mr. Terry I will 
here explain how I obtained the yield claimed, which can be verified 
by many having knowledge of the facts. 

" In 1885 the two acres named received 1,000 pounds of pure bone 
dust per acre, 500 pounds of kainit, 20 two-horse loads of well-rotted 
compost of stable manure, and 800 pounds of phosphate to each 
acre. In 1886 the same received 20 two-horse loads of stable manure 
compost and 1,000 pounds each of fine bone dust and kainit. In 1887 
there was applied the same quantity of compost, bone and kainit, 
making in three years, to each acre, 60 loads of rich stable compost 
(equal at least to 120 loads of ordinary raw manure,) 3,000 pounds of 
bone, 2,500 of kainit, and 800 of phosphate. This, some would say 
was an enormous waste of fertilizers, but I wanted to test the matter 
of economy of the use of so large a dressing. The season of 1887 
was, in South Jersey, a remarkable one for moisture and freedom 
from hot sun and sun-scald. The yield was as I have given it. The 
soil is a friable clay loam, of excellent drainage, and a very favora- 
ble one for the experiment. This year I propose again to use on 
each acre 20 two-horse loads of stable compost and 1,000 pounds 
each of the fine bone and kainit. 

"The 22 acres alluded to had no manure applied to them like the 
two acres named, or the yield would have been much greater. Mr. 
Terry is in error in supposing that the average of the 22 acres of 312 
bushels per acre included the first mentioned plot of two acres. The 
crop of each plot was given separately. The large yield obtained 
was secured by deep, close planting — not more than 10 inches apart 
in the row, and the rows three feet apart. This gives, if there be a 
perfect stand, 16,940 plants per acre, and should each plant yield 
only z)/ z pounds pei hill it would aggregate a yield of over 700 



38 The New Potato Culture. 

bushels per acre. Unless the potatoes are closely planted, where 
manure is used so excessively the growth will run largely to vine, and 
the yield will be comparatively trifling." [This depends upon the 
size of the vines, does it not ? The Early Ohio, for instance, might 
well be planted 10 inches apart, but we should hesitate about plant- 
ing such varieties as the Blush, White Elephant, etc., less than a foot 
or 14 inches apart. — E. S. C] " Deep planting in the soil described 
allows double setting of the tubers ; often triple sets are found — 
one at the bottom of the trench, one at the top, and one between 
these. The largest yields can never be obtained where. there is ne- 
glect of any of the essentials of success in the culture. I cultivate 
well before the plants appear, and as little as possible afterward. Too 
much after culture is a serious injury to the potato, and will largely 
reduce the product. My purpose has been to test the economic part 
of the problem, and so far the heavier use of fertilizers' has been 
best. I find that fewer acres and more manure, accompanied with a 
careful study of the requirements of successful culture, afford better 
results than the cultivation of a large area with a smaller average 
yield. 

" Mr. Carman is doing a good work and will come out successful 
in the potato contest. Should this coming season be favorable, I 
will invite Mr. Terry to see a few potatoes. Should there be failure 
from any cause, I will cheerfully chronicle my defeat." 



CHAPTER V. 



Some Heavy Yields by the Trench Method. 

IN 1888 an offer (through the paper 1 then controlled) of some- 
thing over Si, 000 (in sums of $150 and less) was made to the 
wives of American farmers for the largest yields of potatoes to 
be produced on not less than one-fortieth of an acre. The en- 
terprise was known as the Women's National Potato Contest, 
and ttie interest shown from the outset until the close was certainly 
worthy of the name. There were over one thousand entries. Nearly 
all of the prizes for the heaviest yields were awarded to those who 
adopted the trench system, and the crops, as figured per acre, ranged 
from 1,062 bushels (the highest) to something over 300 bushels. The 
first prize (one- twentieth of an acre) was awarded to Mrs. Selinda E. 
Jones, of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and the variety of potato was 
the White Elephant or Late Beauty of Hebron — they are the same. 
The yield was 53 r V bushels — 2,735 pounds of marketable and 450 
pounds of unmarketable potatoes, or at the rate of 1,061 2 3 bushels 
to the acre. 

The second prize was awarded to Mrs. Eliza Day, of Johnson 
county, Wyoming. The plot was one-twentieth of an acre — variety 
Early Vermont, yield 48 bushels 33 pounds of marketable, and two 
bushels 14^ pounds of unmarketable, or at the rate of 1,015! bush- 
els to the acre. 

The third prize was awarded to Miss Mary Rusk, of Madison 
county, Illinois. The plot was one-fortieth of an acre, or thirty- 
three feet square ; the variety was Chicago Market, and the total 
yield was 24 bushels and 16 pounds, or at the rate of 970.66 bushels 
to the acre. 



4° The New Potato Culture. 

The fourth prize was awarded Miss Emma Hissam, of Steele 
county, Minnesota. The area was one-twentieth of an acre, variety 
Late Rose; yield 46 bushels, one peck, or at the rate of 925 bushels 
to the acre. 

The fifth prize was awarded to Mrs. M. T. Covell, of Erie county, 
Ohio. The area was one-fortieth of an acre ; varieties Green 
Mountain and Rural Blush; the yield was 1,380 pounds, or at the 
rate of 920 bushels to the acre. 

The sixth prize was won by Mrs. Agnes C. Cameron, of Texas 
county, Missouri. The area was one-fortieth of an acre ; the va- 
rieties Rural Blush and Beauty of Hebron ; the yield 1,282, of which 
1,260 pounds were marketable, or, at the rate of 854% bushels to 
the acre. 

The seventh prize, and the last we need here record, was awarded 
to Mrs. Mary E. Warren, of Fairfield county, Connecticut. The area 
was one-fortieth of an acre, the variety White Flower ; the yield 
(total) was 1, 21 5 pounds, or twenty bushels and one peck, being at 
the rate of 810 bushels per acre. 

THE TRENCH SYSTEM FINALLY GIVES 738 BUSHELS TO THE ACRE. 

Contemporaneously with the above recorded Women's Contest, 
though announced afterwards, another was being conducted by the 
owners of the American Agriculturist, supported by a number of en- 
terprising firms. The prescribed area was not less than an acre or, 
if less than an acre, no allowance was to be made for the shortage. The 
first prize, $1,100, was awarded to Mr. C. B. Coy, of Presque Island, 
Maine. The crop was raised in strict accordance with the trench 
system, as will appear by the following note in reply to my inquiry : 

January 10, iSgo. 
Dear Sir : I was induced to use the trench system in planting my prize 
acre by seeing a report of some very large yields raised by that method, in 
the Bowker Fertilizer company's hand-book. The large yields I refer to 
were raised by you on the Rural Experiment Grounds. I shall plant all 
my potatoes that way another year. I think the system a grand success. 
Presque Isle, Maine. Chas. B. Coy. 

The yield was 738 bushels on the acre, or rather it was a fraction 



Some Heavy Yields. 41 

less than an acre, the exact deficit having escaped my memory. The 
particulars, in so far as they need be stated, were as follows : 

Eleven hundred pounds of the Stockbridge potato manure were 
scattered along the bottom of the trenches, after they had been laid 
off for the seed, and were well mixed with the earth in and about the 
trenches by hand with the hoe before planting. The balance (900 
pounds) was applied June 12th at the time of the first hoeing, etc. 
The land was laid off in trenches two feet nine inches apart. The 
seed was dropped 12 inches apart. It was covered by the hoe to a 
depth of two or three inches. Only such tubers were selected for 
seed as had strong, green sprouts at the time of planting. 

The seed was taken from the cellar about six weeks before plant- 
ing and spread thinly on the floor of a dry and warm room in the 
house. 

There is nothing else in the cultivation of this magnificent crop 
that needs to be noted except that the acre was plowed during the 
preceding summer (August) ; again plowed (cross-plowed) the next 
spring and thoroughly harrowed two weeks after. The variety raised 
was Dakota Red. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Conservation of Moisture — Importance of Rainfall — Ineffective- 
ness of American Experiment Station Work. 

ABOUT the time that the proposed Women's National Potato 
Contest was being discussed, Dr. Lawes, the world-renowned 
experimenter of Rothamsted, England, favored me with the 
following brief but suggestive letter. As another and more 
lengthy communication appears from this grand man — to whom the 
entire world is under a load of indebtedness, which it but imperfectly 
recognizes at present, but which it surely will more adequately recog- 
nize in the future — I may be pardoned for saying that it was through 
my repeated solicitations that he was first induced to write for the 
American farm press, and that it was to his work and influence more 
than to all other causes that I was induced to commence experiment 
work — experiment stations were then virtually unknown in America — 
the results, in so far as potatoes are concerned, being for the most 
part placed before the reader in this book. I am by no means alone 
in assuming that it was in a great measure owing to the publicity thus 
given to farm experimentation in this country that, let my own parti- 
cipation be reckoned, as it should be, of comparative insignificance, 
governmental action in favor of State stations was precipitated. Up 
to this time, however, these experiment stations have been of trifling 
service to the people they are intended to help, and, it may well be 
feared, they never will be of service at all proportionate to their cost 
until their fundamental weakness is recognized and repaired. The 
director is, as a rule, chosen through political influence, with little re- 
gard to his fitness for the position. His assistants are appointed not 
because they are capable men, but because they are available men 

(42) 



The Importance of Water. 43 

who, out of employment, are glad to accept of salaries which capable 
men could not afford to accept. Their tenure of office is, from the na 
ture of the case, uncertain, and it is soon ascertained that the reward 
of devoted services is. if not gobbled up by their superior, at least un- 
duly shared with him. The few exceptions to this disheartening state 
of things, made by bright, ambitious young fellows, soon lead to 
better offers from agricultural colleges or other (for the time) better 
conducted stations, and the promising young fellows quit the work 
which is but fairly begun, to plunge into work of a necessarily different 
character owing to the needs of a different locality, soil and climate. 
Necessarily, therefore, while such a state of things exists, there is 
little hope that the station employees of this country may ever work 
out those or cognate problems which, at Rothamsted during the past 
forty-five years, have received the patient, unremitting study and toil 
of trained hands, enthusiastic hearts and competent heads. 

IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO THE POTATO CROP. 

" If you want to grow large crops of potatoes you must be liberal 
in your supply of water as well as of food. The following table will 
give you some idea of the importance of rainfall even when the pota- 
toes have abundance of food. We grow potatoes continually upon the 
same land, using the same manures, viz : 300 pounds of sulphate of 
potash, soda, magnesia, superphosphate, with, in one experiment, 400 
pounds of sulphate of ammonia, and in another, 550 pounds of nitrate 
of soda. The potash and phosphate are in excess of the requirements 
of the largest crop grown, so they are accumulating in the soil. The 
nitrogen is also largely in excess of what the crop takes up, but this 
does not accumulate. 

Rainfall in inches 
May to October, 5 mos . Bushels per acre. 

1881, 13^. 482 

1882, 12^- 3«7 

1883, 13. 401: 

1884, 9. 222 

" In 1881 the rainfall was better distributed over the season than it 
was in 1883. Of course, I do not advocate the use of irrigation unless 
for the purpose of experiment, but merely wish to point out how im- 



44 The New Potato Qilture. 

portant an abundant supply of rain is. The rainfall last year was 
fairly abundant for all other crops, but not for the potato. 

"J. B. Lawes." 

Sir J. B. Lawes's letter, received at a time when hundreds were pre- 
paring to try the new method, seemed to emphasize the importance 
of any kind of culture which gave promise of a conservation of moist- 
ure. 

THE TRENCH METHOD OF CONSERVING MOISTURE. 

The potato plant, before the tubers begin to form, never suffers 
from drought any more than do young corn plants ; but when the 
tubers are forming, their supply of moisture must be unfailing, or a 
check in their growth must follow — and a check means a small crop, 
or, if growth should be resumed, a prongy crop. We would ask our 
readers to compare the weight of the tubers produced by a given 
plant and the weight of the haulm (stems and leaves) of that plant. 
The tubers must grow and mature during a few weeks. They are 
nearly three-quarters water, and the leaves and stems and fibrous 
roots, which together generally weigh less than the potatoes, are 
taxed to their utmost to supply this water and the food it holds. It 
does not matter in the least how rich the soil is, without moisture the 
food is unavailable. We have already explained how the " trench " 
system is supposed to conserve moisture. We wish now to urge our 
readers also to try, at least in one trench, the effects of mulching. In 
our early tests, given in detail further on, the mulched trenches in- 
creased the yield over the unmulched trenches 88 bushels per acre, 
both fertilized with essentially the same quantity and kind of fertili- 
zers. Two inches of cut straw, coarse hay, or wheat, rye, barley or 
oat chaff, will serve the purpose, and if by its use, the yield can be 
increased during dry seasons our farmers may well afford to apply it. 
The drawback is that it is impossible to predict whether the season 
will be wet or dry. 

The trench system will be found not to require the additional labor 
and expense that many suppose. But in the other case, if the in- 
creased yield will more than repay the cost, why not adopt it ? Let 
every one of our farmer or gardener readers bury his incredulity or 
prejudices for the once, and give the method a careful, exact trial. 



The Importance of Water. 45 

A common plow may be used to form the trenches by plowing both 
ways, forming an open or dead furrow — or a shovel or listing plow 
may be used. Let the bottom of the trenches be 10 inches wide at 
least. This bottom should be mellowed, and the seed potatoes placed 
one foot apart. Cover them with two inches or more of soil. Then 
apply the mulch, scattering it evenly over the surface-soil of the 
trench, and then sow the complete potato fertilizer at the rate of 500 
pounds (or more) to the acre. Finally, fill the trench as lightly as 
possible with the return soil, and give level cultivation. 

OBJECTIONS TO THE TRENCH. 

Several friends, as did Mr. Terry, have asked this question : " If I 
thoroughly prepare my field so that all of it is the same as the trench, 
what would be the use of plowing a trench ?" There would be no use 
whatever in so far as the mellowness of the soil could increase the 
crop. The trench, however, would still enable the farmer to place 
the fertilizer just where it is most needed for that crop and it would 
further enable him to plant deeper, a consideration, as we believe, of 
the first importance. In practice, however, it may be repeated, we 
have never seen a field so well prepared that plowing a trench and re- 
filling it would not still further mellow the soil. 

Again, the objection to the trench and to level culture has been 
made that more tubers become exposed to the air, becoming green 
and worthless. Such an objection will never be made by those who 
have given it a thorough trial. Having plenty of soil in which to form 
without being crowded, they rarely grow above the soil. Another ob- 
jection is that it costs more to harvest trench than hill potatoes, an 
objection that is valid enough if the increased yield from the trenches 
is not enough to pay for the extra labor. It is not the work that a 
farmer puts on his crops, neither is it the cost of the manure that 
must first be taken into account. The question is, " will it pay /" 

Treading on the seed-piece after it has been dropped into the hill 
or drill is approved of by many thorough-going farmers because it in- 
sures a closer contact of the piece with the soil. But this is quite at 
variance with our ideas of trench culture. If the design were to 
smash the piece of potato or to injure the eyes, it would be more or 
less effective, no doubt. If the roots grew out of the potato there 



46 The New Potato Culture. 

might be some sease in it. But the soil has nothing to do with the 
starting of the roots any further than it provides moisture. The 
roots grow out of the stem which is for a time supported by the 
seed potato itself. The sprout, shoot or stem makes its way through 
the soil, and the contact of the mellowest soil is sufficiently close. To 
keep it mellow — not to compact it — is the problem, and this problem 
is solved more nearly, in our opinion, by the trench than by any other 
method of potato culture known to-day. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Experiment:: with Different Fertilisers on Potatoes. 

FIRST SEASON. 

THESE tests with different fertilizers, and with various combi- 
nations of them, seem to the writer to be as instructive as 
any similar experiments can be that are not repeated from 
year to year. Many experiments of this kind are altogether 
contradictory, for the reason, probably, that the soil in which they are 
made is not so far impoverished that they will show what food is really 
needed. Many farmers who have tried plain superphosphates alone, 
raw bone alone, or potash alone, or any two, will see from these tests 
that they ought not condemn so-called chemical fertilizers because any 
one, or even any two, should fail to give a marked increase of crop. 
If a soil needs all kinds of plant food and is supplied with but one, no 
matter how large the quantity may be, the crops will not be materially 
benefited. Thus it will be seen that in these tests, potash alone did 
no good ; dissolved burnt bone, which furnishes phosphoric acid only, 
did no good. Nitrogen increased the growth of the vines, which, for 
want of potash and phosphoric acid in the soil, gave, it is assumed, 
no increase of tubers. But the complete fertilizers— those which fur- 
nish all three — gave an increase of crop in every case. 

Study this question, farmers. It will pay you to do so. If you 
don't know what your land needs, use complete fertilizers, with a fair 
per cent, of the three essential constituents, until you find out. You 
can find out by making just such experiments as those which are given. 
When we hear farmers say that they have tried kainit, or superphos- 
phate, or sulphate or muriate of potash, without the slightest effect, 
we earnestly desire to explain the thing to them as we ourselves un- 

(47) 



48 The New Potato Culture. 

derstand it. Let it be borne in mind that five tons, or a greater or 
less amount, of potash or plain superphosphate of lime, or both, might 
be spread upon an acre without any result. But let us even the next 
season, or possibly ten years afterwards, supply nitrate of soda or 
salts of ammonia plentifully, and the farmer would no longer say that 
fertilizers were worthless upon his soil. Plants, like human creatures, 
need a complete food, and if the soil does not supply it, we must feed 
the soil with the deficient element. If the soil from exhaustion needs 
every element, we must supply a "complete" food, complete in the 
quantity as well as in the number of food components. 

Let us further consider that farm manure, aside from its mechan- 
ical effects, is precisely the same as the so-called concentrated ferti- 
lizers, except that it is less soluble. That is to say, if we could burn 
farm manure, and still preserve all of its nitrogen, the ashes would 
show just exactly what we may furnish to the land in chemical fertili- 
zers. It is very plain, however, that the mechanical effects of bulky ' 
manure can never be supplied by fertilizers. 

We are not, just now, advocating the use of fertilizers at all — 
neither are we discussing the question as to whether, at their present 
price, we can afford to use them. We merely wish to show that 
they do furnish the elements of food to plants the same as stable or 
farm manure or composts of leaves, muck, straw or any other sub- 
stance furnishes them, and that we have but to supply the elements 
which our soil needs to render it fertile. 

As shown in the tests given in detail as we proceed, there is in the 
main no positive contradiction in the results. All the plots tell, if 
averages be considered, about the same story, and that is, that this 
particular worn-out loam needs complete fertilizer — that is, phos- 
phoric acid, potash and nitrogen. Nitrogen alone, while it gave 
greater growth of tops of a deeper green color than the others, could 
not sustain the plants to a full maturity. The tops therefore died, 
and the yield was poor. The disparities between individual plots are 
such as may be looked for in any system of experimentation that is 
not carried on for years in succession in the same way and upon the 
same soil. 

Plot 27, which gives by far the greatest yield, received less fertili- 
zer than either plots 12 or 17. It may reasonably be concluded, 
therefore, that this is owing to the two inches of short-cut timothy 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 49 

hay which was spread as a mulch. The pieces were covered, as were 
all the others, with two inches of soil. Upon this the hay was evenly 
spread across the trench, and upon the hay 500 pounds (per acre) of 
potato fertilizer and 50 pounds of kainit were strewn. The early part 
of the season was so dry that it was thought that all of the potatoes 
received a check. It was then, no douht, that the mulch of hay per- 
formed its best service. 

These experiments were designed to test the effects of the various 
concentrated constituents of which commercial fertilizers are com- 
posed, separately and in various combinations. The soil of the plots 
selected was, as stated, a worn out sandy loam, level and naturally 
well drained. There was no air stirring to interfere with the even 
distribution of the fertilizers ; the soil was mellow and moist without 
being wet, and with ample assistance the entire work of sowing the 
fertilizers, planting and finishing the plots, was accomplished between 
7 in the morning and sunset of April 14th. 

The seed had been cut several days previously, the White Star 
having been selected as, by its season of maturing, keeping qualities 
and vigor, well suited to such tests. Potatoes of nearly the same 
size were cut in halves lengthwise, the seed end of each having been 
cut off and rejected. The seed conditions were made still more equal 
by using the same weight of seed pieces to each plot. Trenches had 
been dug several days previously, two spades wide and six inches 
deep — the trenches six feet apart so that the roots of one trench 
should not reach and feed upon the fertilizer of the adjacent trenches. 
Later, two inches of soil were raked into the trenches, and upon this 
the pieces (cut surface down) were placed one foot apart, April 14th, 
as stated above. Two inches of the soil were raked over them and 
the different fertilizers applied as shown in the table further on. 

As regards the yield per acre, the two extremes may be given — first, 
the mulched plot (No. 27) which received fertilizer and kainit ; and, 
second, the average yield of the plots not fertilized. It must be borne 
in mind that the trenches were six feet apart. Very likely they would 
have yielded nearly as well had they been three feet apart, the dis- 
tance usually allowed. At six feet apart the yield of the mulched plot 
(No. 27) was at the rate of 172.33 bushels to the acre, or 344.66, were 
the yield to be estimated from trenches three feet apart, which, for 
ready comparison with the later trials, has been preferred. 
p.— 4 



5° The New Potato Culture. 

The average yield of tha plots not fertilized, at six feet apart, was 
at the rate of 69.66 bushels to the acre — or had the trenches been 
three feet apart, double that amount, or 139.32 bushels to the acre. 
If we take the average yield of all the plots which did not receive 
* 'complete" fertilizers, we find it to be at six feet apart at the rate of 
79.75 bushels to the acre — or at three feet apart 159.50 to the acre. 
The special fertilizer therefore increased the yield, only 10 bushels to the 
acre, if we reckon at six feet apart ; and 20 bushels, if at three feet 
apart, as compared with the natural soil ; while the complete fertilizer 
and hay mulch increased the yield, over the natural soil, 102.69 
bushels to the acre, if planted six feet apart, and 205.38 bushels to 
the acre, if planted three feet apart. With the complete fertilizer 
(potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid) and without the hay mulch 
(plot No. 17), the yield was increased over the natural soil or unfertil- 
ized plots, 58.67 bushels to the acre at six feet, and at three feet 
1 17.34 bushels to the acre. With the complete fertilizer of plot No. 
12 the yield was increased 38.50 bushels if planted six feet apart, and 
77 bushels if three feet apart. 

POTATO FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS. 

Showing the comparative yield per acre, the fertilizers used, and the 
relative size of vines. 

Fertilizer. Vine Bus. of 

FERTILIZER USED. Pounds per Growth potatoes 

acre. June 16. to acre. 



No. 1. Nitrate of soda 200 9 124 66. 



No. 2. Sulphate of ammonia 120 8.50 124.66 



No. 3. Dissolved bone-black 400 5 122.83 



No. 4. No fertilizer 5 



No. 5. Sulphate of potash (50 per cent.) . . 300 5.50 154.00 

No. 6. Plaster • 400 5.50 141. 16 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 51 

Fertiliser. Vine Bus. of 

fertilizer used. Pounds per Growth Potatoes 

acre. Ji"w 16. to acre. 

No. 7. Lime 2,000 6 161.83 

No. S. Nitrate of soda 200 

Dissolved bone-black 1 400 9 170.50 

No. 9 No fertilizer 5 13566 

No. 10. Nitrate of soda : 200 

Sulphate of potash \ 300 9 232.83 



No. 11. Dissolved bone-black 1 400 

Sulphate of potash \ 300 5.50 174. lC 

No. 12. Nitrate of soda 1 200 

Dissolved bone-black [ 400 10 216,33 

Sulphate of potash | 300 

No. 13. Fine ground bone 1,000 6.50 157.6c 

[No plots between Nos. 13 and 16) 



No. 16. No fertilizer 5 172.33 

No. 17. Mapes potato manure 800 10 256.66 

No. iS. Farm manure, two years old 20,000 8 221.83 



No. 19. No fertilizer 5 141. 16 



No. 20. Sifted coal-ashes 40 bus. 5 141. 16 

No. 21. Kainit 880 lbs. 5.50 159.50 

No. 22. Kainit 1,760 5.50 188.83 

No. 23. No fertilizer 55 o 154.00 



^2 The New Potato Culture. 



Fertilizer. Vine Bus. of 

FERTILIZER USED. Pounds per Growth, potatoes 

acre. June 16. to acre. 



No. 24. Unleached wood-ashes from burnt 

brush 41^ bus. 5.50 165.00 

No. 25. Hen manure 55 bus. 9 176.00 

No. 26. No fertilizer 5 154.00 

No. 27. Mapes potato manure \ 500 lbs. 

Kainit [- 50 8 344 .66 

Hay mulch ; — 

It must be explained that the "vine growth" as exhibited in the 
second column of the preceding table is intended to show the size 
and vigor of the plants as they appeared at the time noted, June 16. 
Such observations have been carefully made in most of these potato 
experiments, the aim being to see in how far the yield of tubers ac- 
cords with the growth of vine. Ten is the number to denote the 
maximum of vigor, lower numbers indicating less vigor and size. It 
has been found a very trustworthy way of guessing at the yield ; that 
is to say, the yield of tubers is generally proportionate to the develop- 
ment of the vines.* 

SECOND YEAR'S TRIAL ON DIFFERENT LAND WITH THE SAME 
FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZER CONSTITUENTS. 

Here we have a soil that will not "grow beans," or even a good 
crop of weeds without manure. Though cropped year after year, 
this part of the field has received neither fertilizers nor manure for 
many years. It was, therefore, very hungry, and ready to show its 
appreciation of a full meal, which rich soils never do. What did the 
soil need, was the question again asked ? Was it bone, or potash, or 
ammonia — one^ two or three ? Would ashes or hen manure or farm 

*The potato fertilizer used (Mapes) had the following guaranteed analysis : 



1.46 Nitrate soda. 
.85 Ammonia. 
1 .60 Organic. 
3.91 — Total. 



3.90 Soluble phosphoric acid. 

4.32 Reverted " Potash 7.32. 

2.54 Insoluble 

10 76 — Total 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 53 

manure or plaster give a good crop ? Would fertilizer give a larger 
crop than manure ? Would ground fish yield a good crop ? Would 
nitrogen alone in excess help the crop ? Would a large quantity of 
nitrogen alone produce a paying crop ? Would phosphoric acid or 
potash, or the two combined, prove sufficient for a profitable crop? 
Could a well balanced " complete" manure for potatoes be made 
from dissolved rock, nitrate of soda and muriate of potash ? How 
would the same compare with the highest priced " complete" potato 
manure offered by dealers ? All these questions we hoped to answer 
by this series of experiments. 

The land was plowed April 10. The work of planting was begun 
at eight o'clock, April 14, and finished at 5.30, three men being em- 
ployed. The " Calico" potato (a seedling of my own) an early va- 
riety, was the "seed" planted. In the previous year's trial it was the 
White Star, as noted — an intermediate kind. There was, as in the 
previous trial, scarcely a breath of air moving to interfere with the 
even distribution of the fertilizers. The season was favorable to a 
maximum yield from first to last. 

In the following, as in the preceding tables, the heavy lines show 
the rate of yield per acre and are drawn to a scale — one-eighth of an 
inch representing 10 bushels — one inch equal to 80 bushels. All the 
potatoes were weighed, regardless of size, and 60 pounds rated as a 
bushel. 

Pounds I 'ine Growth Yield 
Plots. Fertilizer. applied May 27, bushels 

per acre. 10 maximum, per acre. 

No. 1. Nitrate of soda 200 3 141 

No. 1 \. Natural soil 2 88 

No. 2. Sulphate of ammonia 120 4 132 

No. 3. Dissolved bone-black 400 4 103 

No. 4. Natural soil 2 97 

No. 5. Sulphate of potash 300 2 95 



54 The Nezv Potato Culture. 

Pounds Vine Growth Yield 

Plots. Fertilizer. applied May 27, bushels 

per acre, to maximum, per acre. 

No. 6. Plaster 400 1 90 

No. 7. Natural soil 2 68 

No. 8 . j Nitrate of soda 200 ) a iiq 

( Dissolved bone-black 400 > 

No. 9. Farm manure, two years old 20,000 4 147 

XT I Nitrate of soda 200 ) 

No. 10. < - 2 90 

( Sulphate of potash 300 ' 

XT ( Dissolved bone-black 400 / 

No. 11. •< n - 2 bi 

( Sulphate of potash 300 > 

1 Nitrate of soda 200 j 

No. 12. < Dissolved bone-black 400 ,- 3 84 

( Sulphate of potash 300 ' 

This plot was affected by the roots of a tree. 

No. 13. Raw bone 1,000 4 77 

No. 14. Farm manure, two years old 20,000 4 100 

No, 15. Natural soil 1 59 

No. 16. Hen manure 1,440 4 81 

No. 17. Mapes' potato manure 800 9 176 

No. 18. Farm manure, two years old 20,003 6 169 

No. 19. Mapes' potato manure 1,200 9 273 

1 Acid phosphate 700 \ 

No. 20. -j Nitrate of soda 200 - 6 156 

' Muriate of potash 120 ' 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 55 

Pounds Vine Growth Yield 

Plots. Fertilizer. applied May 2? \ bushels 

per acre, to maximum, pet acre. 

No. 21. Acid phosphate 700 3 1 10 



vr \ Nitrate of soda 210 | , _,_ 

No. 22.- \ 3 J 39 

( Muriate of potash 120 > 



No. 23. Ground fish 400 124 

No. 24. Mapes' potato manure 1,200 323 

The seed pieces mulched with old straw, Rural trench mulch system. 

No. 25. Natural soil 2 59 

No. 26. Hen manure 2,880 7 147 

/ Blood \ 

No. 27. -| Nitrate of soda ,- 1,100 8 183 

' Sulphate of ammonia ' 

No. 28. Mapes' potato manure, 1,200 lbs., 

with the following nitrogen mixture 

added : 

Blood ] 

Nitrate of soda !> r „„ 

600 10 235 

Sulphate of ammonia | 

Mulch was used same as 24. 

No. 29. Same as 28, except that a mulch of j 

old straw was spread over seed \ 8 224 

pieces I 

COMPARATIVE AVERAGE YIELDS. 

Average yield of the trenches with neither manure nor fertilizer : 

74 bushels per acre. 



56 The New Potato Culture. 

Average yield of the trenches with incomplete fertilizers : 

112 bushels per acre. 



Average yield of the trenches with hen manure : 



Average yield of the trenches with ground fish 



114 bushels per acre. 



124 bushels per acre. 



Average yield of the trenches with farm manure 



139 bushels per acre. 



Average yield of the trenches with complete potato fertilizer : 

224 bushels per acre. 

The largest yield was given by trench No. 24, which received the 
complete fertilizer and a mulch of old straw which had been exposed 
to the weather during the entire winter. This was spread two inches 
deep in the trench directly on the potato pieces after they had been 
covered with an inch of soil and the fertilizer used for that trench. 
The yield was at the rate of 323 bushels to the acre, or 50 bushels 
more than where the same quantity of the same fertilizer was used 
without mulch in trench No. 18. When, however, the trenches Nos. 
28 and No. 29 are compared, it appears that the mulch did not in- 
crease the yield. While in trench No. 27 an excessive dressing of ni- 
trogen alone (in three forms) seems to have raised the yield 109 
bushels per acre over the natural soil yield, it seems to have lessened 
the yield when added to the complete fertilizer 44 bushels, as com- 
pared with trench 19. While, therefore, an excessive application of 
nitrogenous fertilizers alone may be supposed to increase the yield by 
acting upon the latent potash and phosphate of the soil, an over-dose 
in addition to an ample supply of complete fertilizer seems to be in- 
jurious. 

While it is plain that this series of experiments, as do the first 
series, show that a complete fertilizer alone will produce a maximum 
crop in this soil, the action of partial fertilizers is in some cases con- 
tradictory and in many cases u? satisfactory. 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 57 

In row No. 1 nitrate of soda gives 141 bushels to the acre, and yet 
in No. 8 the same quantity (200 pounds per acre) of nitrate of soda, 
together with 400 pounds of dissolved bone-black, gives only no bush- 
els ; 31 bushels less than pure nitrate of soda alone. Again, in No. 
10 nitrate of soda and sulphate of potash give only 90 bushels, while 
in plot No. 5 sulphate of potash alone gives at the rate of 95 bushels. 
Similar contradictory results seem to rule in the majority of experi- 
ments reported of this class of fertilizers. Their action is so largely 
an indirect one on the other ingredients already in the soil, and in so 
many ways they act and re- act on the soil and themselves that it seems 
to be impossible to trace their plant-feeding powers. The results 
from their use in an experiment in 1884 were more contradictory 
than during the past year. Nitrate of soda gave promise in the vine 
growth of a good crop, equal to that of the best complete manure, 
instead of which it failed to hold out through the season and yielded 
little more than the natural soil. The results from sulphate of am- 
monia were little if any better than from nitrate of soda — fair prom- 
ises and poor results. 

Complete manures, especially the complete potato manure, prove 
themselves to have adequate feeding resources of their own. They 
seem to feed the crop from their own resources, not only producing 
healthy vine growth, but bringing large yields. 

THIRD YEAR'S TRIAL ON DIFFERENT LAND WITH ESSENTIALLY THE 
SAME FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZER CONSTITUENTS. 
As to the preparation of the plots, it is hardly necessary to repeat 
what has been said on preceding pages. The seed, Rural Blush, 
a late variety, was cut the day previous to planting. Potatoes of 
nearly the same size were cut in halves lengthwise, the seed ends of 
which had been cut off and rejected. The seed conditions, as be- 
fore, were made still more equal by using the same weight of seed 
pieces to each plot. Trenches had been dug several days previously, 
fifteen inches wide and six inches deep, the trenches three feet apart. 
Later, two inches of soil were raked into the trenches, and upon this 
the pieces (cut surface down) were placed one foot apart. Two inches 
of soil were raked over them, and the fertilizer applied as described. 
The season, for this land, was considered favorable. The work of 
planting and fertilizing was completed by three men in one day. 



58 



The New Potato Cult tor. 



Pounds ft i tilizer 
per acre. 

i. Nitrate soda 200 

15. No manure 00 

2. Sulphate of ammonia 120 

3. Dissolved bone-black 400 

4. No manure 00 

5. Sulphate potash 300 

6. Plaster 400 

7. No manure 00 

8. Nitrate soda : 200 ) 

Dissolved bone-black 400 ) 

9. New York manure 10 tons 

10. Nitrate soda 200 lbs. ^ 

Sulphate potash 300 

11. Dissolved bone-black 400 

Sulphate potash 300 

12. Nitrate soda 200 ' ' "| 

Dissolved bone-black 400 " j- 

Sulphate potash 300 

13. Raw-bone 1,000 

14. N. Y. manure forked in the bot- 

tom of the trench and the seed- 
pieces placed on top 10 tons 

15 No manure 00 lbs. 

16. Hen manure 2,640 " 

17. Mapes's potato manure 000 " 

18. N. Y. manure spread on the top 

of the covered seed-pieces. 

(Mulch system) 10 tons 

19. Mapes'spotato manure (ammonia 

4.50; phosphoric acid, 8.00; 

potash, 6.00) 1,200 lbs. 

20. Acid (S. C. rock) phosphate. . . . 700 " ] 

Nitrate soda 200 ' ' j> 

Muriate potash 120 " I 

21. Acid phosphate 700 " 



Yieid bushels 
per acre. 

235 

256 

30 \ 

266 

242 

272 

225 

260 

354 

433 
376 

245 

348 
290 

280 
272 
323 
332 

343 

5ii 
381 
229 



Experiments with Differe?it Fertilizers. 



59 



Pounds fe rt ili: t- r 
per acre. 



24. 



:\ 



Muriate potash 120 

Nitrogen mixture, viz : equal 
parts sulphate of ammonia, 
nitrate soda and dried blood, 
200 pounds of each, per acre, 
was spread on top the seed- 
pieces after they had been 
lightly covered with soil, and 10 
tons N. Y. stable manure 
spread on top of this for a 
mulch 

No manure 

Floats (finest S. C. rock) 1,000 lbs. 

Peruvian guano 400 " 

Hen manure 5.280 " 

No manure 



Yield bushels 
per acre. 



323 



476 
269 
289 
264 

363 
246 



AVERAGES. 

No manure plots average 253 

Single chemical constituents 21 1 ; 

Two " " 3 2 4 

Three " " 3 6 4 

Potato fertilizer 421 

Stable manure 354 

Hen manure 343 

Fish 323 



THE PROMISE OF YIELD AS INDICATED BY THE VINES JUNE 27TH. 

As in preceding years, we rated the growth and general appearance 
of the vines, with the view to ascertaining in what degree the yield 
of potatoes would correspond with the promise thus indicated. Ten 
(10) is the highest possible rating. 



6o 



The New Potato Culture. 



Plot i Rated 2 



Plot 15 Rated 3 



i3 
14 



16 

17 
18 

19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 

27 
28 

29 



One often hears of immense tops, and yet a very small yield. This 
has occurred in my experience, though in more fertile soil ; first, when 
large quantities of unleached ashes were used, and, second, when farm 
manure alone was used, plowed under the preceding fall. With well 
balanced chemical fertilizers alone it has never occurred ; indeed we 
believe, though we do not know, that with well balanced complete 
fertilizers a heavy growth of tops is an almost unfailing indication of 
a large crop of tubers, even though as high as two tons of fertilizer 
to the acre be used. 

THE LAND. 

The land of the plots was, as is plainly shown by the good yields 
without manure, much more fertile than that of the plots experimented 
with in previous years. The change was made because there seemed 
no longer any reason for continuing the poorer land trials, since the 
result of two seasons of trial proved beyond a doubt that the soil 
needed all kinds of plant food, and that a decidedly increased yield 
could not be secured without them. They were therefore given up in 
favor of richer land, though of the same character, a loam inclining 
a trifle to sand rather than to clay. 

It will be seen that the results are variable, though complete ferti- 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 61 

lizers still give largely increased yields over special constituents, and 
the valuable lesson taught in this case, as in the previous trials, is that 
for potatoes, it pays well on this land to use them in preference to 
partial fertilizers or even to hen, fish or stable manure. The manure 
was from New York stables, well decomposed, and of apparently ex- 
cellent quality. The. Peruvian guano contained an undue weight of 
stones and we do not regard the trial as a fair one. The variableness 
of the yields is probably due in a measure to two causes, viz : (i) po- 
tatoes were raised upon the same land the year before, fertilized in 
the drill, and (2) corn was raised two years before, manured in the hill. 

A LETTER FROM SIR J. P.. LAWES RESPECTING THE EFFECTS OF 
DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS. 

Having presented the results of our own experiments touching this 
very important question in regard to the effects of fertilizers (complete 
and special or partial) on the growth of potatoes, I may conclude the 
subject with the following valuable communication which I have re- 
ceived from Sir J. B. Lawes, of Rothamsted, England : 

"Although I consider that the use of complete artificial manures 
involves 100 great a cost for their employment in the growth of ordi- 
nary farm crops, perhaps an exception may be made in regard to 
potatoes, a crop which requires a large supply of both potash and 
nitrogen. 

"At Rothamsted, we have grown nine crops of potatoes in suc- 
cession upon land which for 16 years previously had received no yard 
manure, and the average yield of the last three crops has been 400 
bushels per acre, calculating the bushel to weigh 50 pounds. The 
manure used each year has been 300 pounds of sulphate of potash, 
350 pounds of superphosphate of lime, and 400 pounds of salts of am- 
monia, while in another experiment, instead of the salts of ammonia, 
540 pounds of nitrate of soda were applied. The produce from both 
manures has been almost identical. 

"The sulphate o? potash supplies about 130 pounds of potash — and 
we find very nearly the same amount in the crop. The phosphoric 
acid, on the other hand, is much in excess of the requirements of the 
crop, and it might be reduced one-half. The salts of ammonia and 
the nitrate each supply about the same amount of nitrogen — 87 pounds 



62 The New Potato Culture. 

and of this the crop does not take up more than 50 pounds ; there is, 
apparently, therefore, a considerable loss of this substance ; but, at 
the same time, any reduction in the amount of these manures would 
be followed by a reduction in the crop. The loss of this costly manure 
ingredient is a most serious matter, as unfortunately there is but 
little prospect of recovering, in succeeding crops, any appreciable 
amount of the 37 pounds not taken up by the first. By means of the 
same mineral manures alone, we have grown — over the same period — 
one half the crop we obtained by the application of minerals with 
nitrogen, the soil having supplied a sufficient amount of that substance 
to give a product of 200 bushels ; but one-half of the minerals applied 
remained inactive in the soil ; these, however, might be made available 
to the crop by an application of nitrogen. 

" The quantity of potash removed in potatoes is very large. In the 
400 bushels it amounts to about 130 pounds. Compare this with the 
amount removed by animals. An ox, weighing 1,400 pounds, which 
was killed for the purpose of analysis, contained only two and one-half 
pounds, in the whole carcass and offal. Hay is another crop which 
takes a good deal of potash from the soil, and farmers in England 
rarely grow either hay or potatoes for sale, unless there are facilities 
for the purchase of town dung. Artificial manures are certainly not 
used alone, by practical farmers, in the growth of their crops. 

" In our experiment field, the character of the manures is always 
represented in the stems and leaves of the plant. Ammonia and ni- 
trate, without minerals, give a low stem and greenish-brown leaves, 
which in the evening appear almost black. Minerals without nitro- 
gen, give a thin, low stem and yellowish-green leaves, while miner- 
als and nitrogen together give a luxuriant, and sometimes an over- 
luxuriant, stem with leaves of a bright green. There is no difficulty 
in accounting for these peculiarities. A plant takes up whatever food 
is most abundant in the soil, with the hope, as I sometimes put it, 
that sooner or later it may find the food which suits it best. In the 
dark green leaves the nitrogen is in excess, but starch cannot be 
formed without potash, and the supplies of potash are not sufficient 
to use up the nitrogen. It is far more easy to change yellowish- 
green of the mineral-manured potatoes into a dark green, than it is to 
lighten the color of potatoes which receive nitrogen ; a solution of 
nitrate of soda will effect the one in a very few days, but as both 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 63 

potash and phosphoric acid form insoluble compounds with the soil, 
they are much more slowly taken up by plants. 

"We always, however, obtain a larger crop of potatoes where we 
apply the mineral manures alone, than where we apply the nitrogen 
without the minerals, though in the next field, salts of ammonia, ap- 
plied without minerals for 39 years in succession, have grown larger 
crops of wheat over the whole period than mineral manures with- 
out ammonia. To explain this apparent inconsistency we must con- 
sider the great difference in character of the two crops. 

"Wheat in England is sown in the autumn, and being a deep- 
rooted plant, it has a greater range of soil to obtain a supply of min- 
eral food than the spring-sown potato. The relation between the 
potash and the phosphoric acid and nitrogen in the two crops is also 
very different. In the wheat crops grown by salts of ammonia alone, 
mixed samples, taken over a period of 10 years, give the products per 
acre of the total crop- -straw and grain — as follows: nitrogen, 36 
pounds; potash, 23 pounds ; phosphoric acid, 13 pounds. The rela- 
tion, therefore, between these two important minerals and nitrogen is 
as 1 to 1. 

'•In the potato crop, on the other hand, the proportion of nitrogen 
to the minerals is nearly 1 of nitrogen to 3 of minerals, the demand 
upon the soil for potash being much greater in the case of potatoes 
than where wheat or barley is grown. It must be a very large wheat 
crop indeed which removes 50 pounds of nitrogen from the soil, but 
in some of our potato crops we carry off more than 100 pounds of that 
substance per acre. 

"As very few soils could furnish so large an amount as this from 
their own resources, when potatoes are continuously grown, it becomes 
necessary to furnish a supply of potash either in dung or chemical 
salts. The following table gives the products of the crop grown in 
1883, being the ninth in succession without any change in the manure;-,. 

TABLE. 

Potatoes per acre 

in long ton. Cwt. 

1. 14 tons of dung 6 

2. Minerals without nitrogen 5 

3 Nitrogen without minerals 3 3 

4. Minerals and ammonia 8 19 

5. Minerals and nitrates 8 2 



64 The New Potato Culture. 

Amount of mineral matter and nitrogen per cent, in dry tubers. 

Mineral matter. Nitrogen. 

1 3-5 109 

2 3-36 0.73 

3 2.64 1.47 

4 3 67 1.08 

5 3-36 1.37 

" The character of the manure is most clearly shown in the compo- 
sition of the crop. In No. 2, manured with minerals, the minerals 
are more than five times as high as the nitrogen ; while in No. 3, 
where ammonia or nitrates are used, the minerals are considerably 
less than double the amount of nitrogen. In both cases there is a 
waste of power, shown by small crops, and unused manures. The 
loss, however, is not equal in both cases, as the minerals remain in 
the soil, to be taken up at some future time, while the nitrogen is 
probably lost." 

RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED (ENGLAND) ON THE 

GROWTH OF POTATOES FOR TWELVE YEARS IX 

SUCCESSION ON THE SAME LAND. 

Dr. J. H. Gilbert, Dr. Lawes's associate, in a lecture before the 
Royal Agricultural College speaks at considerable length on the 
above subject. 

His special object was to show the general requirements of the 
crop, both actually and as compared with other crops, and the actual 
and comparative characters and composition of the product obtained. 
He draws his illustrations mainly from the results of field experi- 
ments on the growth of the potato by different manures, for a num- 
ber of years in succession on the same land, at Rothamsted, and 
from those of collateral investigations into the composition of the 
produce, made in the Rothamsted laboratory. 

The average produce over twelve years without manure is not quite 
two tons per acre ; and there was considerable decline from period to 
period under this exhausting treatment. Nevertheless this low yield 
without manure for twelve years in succession on the same land, 
is about as much as the average produce under ordinary cultivation 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 65 

in the United States, and nearly two- thirds as much as in some im- 
portant European countries. By superphosphate of lime alone, the 
produce is raised from an average of scarcely two, to nearly 3^ 
tons ; that is, to very little more than by the superphosphates alone. 
It is evident, therefore, that up to this amount of production, the 
character of the exhaustion induced by the growth of the crop on 
this land, which was, agriculturally speaking, in a somewhat exhausted 
condition, was much more that of available phosphoric acid than of 
potash, or the other bases. It is remarkable that there is much less 
increase of produce of potatoes by nitrogenous manures than by 
mineral manures alone. 

Thus, by ammonium salts alone there is an average produce of 
scarcely two tons six cwts., or only about six cwts. more than with- 
out manure ; and with nitrate of soda alone there is an average of 
only two tons 12^ cwt. per acre. The better result by nitrate of 
soda than by ammonium salts is doubtless due to the nitrogenous 
supply being more immediately available, and more rapidly dis- 
tributed within the soil, and so inducing a more extended develop- 
ment of the feeding root. 

These negative results by the nitrogenous manures alone, confirm 
the conclusion that by the continuous growth of the crop on this 
land it was the valuable supply of mineral constituents within the 
root range of the plants, more than that of nitrogen, that became 
deficient. 

The last two lines of the table show that, with the mixed mineral 
manure and ammonium salts together, there was an average of about 
six tons \\ x / 2 cwts., and with the mixed mineral manure and the same 
amount of nitrogen as nitrate of soda, an average of six tons 13 
cwt. ; that is, nearly twice as much as with the mineral manure 
alone, and much more than twice as much as with the nitrogenous 
manure alone. 

The fact is, that it is only the comparatively small proportion of 
the nitrogen of farm-yard manure, which is due to the liquid dejec- 
tions of the animals, that is in a readily and rapidly available condi- 
tion ; whilst that due to more or less digested matter passing in the 
fasces, is more slowly available, and that in the latter remains a long 
time inactive. Hence, the addition of nitrogen as nitrate of soda to 
the farm yard manure had a very marked effect. 
p.- 5 



66 The New Potato Culture. 

The summary shows that the proportion of diseased tubers was 
the greater, the greater the amount of nitrogen supplied. 

Upon the whole, it is obvious that in the case of this somewhat 
agriculturally exhausted arable land, mineral manures alone had 
more effect than nitrogenous manures alone ; but that, mineral con- 
stituents being adequately supplied, the further addition of nitroge- 
nous manures was essential to obtain anything like full crops. 

It is of interest to observe that the amount of disease was not en- 
hanced by the continuous growth of the crop on the same land, as is 
frequently assumed to be the case. 

But little is definitely known of the special function of individual 
mineral constituents in vegetation. It is, however, pretty clearly es- 
tablished that the presence of potash is essential for the formation 
of the chief non-nitrogenous matters — starch and sugar. The pub- 
lished results of experiments at Rothamsted have shown that the 
proportion of potash in the ash of wheat was the greater, the better 
matured the grain — that is, the larger proportion of starch it con- 
tained ; and here in the potato we find a greatly increased amount of 
potash in the heaviest crops, that is to say, in those in which the 
largest amounts of starch have been formed. 

The accumulation of phosphoric acid, on the other hand, is more 
directly connected with the assimilation of nitrogen and the forma- 
tion of the nitrogenous compound. 

It will be remembered that the quantity of farm-yard manure an- 
nually applied per acre was estimated to contain about 200 pounds of 
nitrogen, besides a very large amount of mineral constituents. Yet, 
in no case was the increased yield of solid substance in the crop so 
great as was obtained by an artificial mixture of mineral and nitro- 
genous manure, supplying only 86 pounds of nitrogen, but in a more 
readily available condition. Nor was the increased assimilation of any 
of the individual constituents so great under the influence of the farm- 
yard manure, as when they were applied in the rapidly available condi- 
tion, as in the artificial mixtures. 

In the case of other crops it has been found that only a small por- 
tion of the nitrogen of farm-yard manure was taken up in the year 
of application. But these results seem to indicate that the potato is 
able to avail itself of a less proportion of the nitrogen of the manure than 
any other farm crop. Yet, in ordinary practice, farm-yard manureis 



Experiments with Different Fertilizers. 67 

not only largely relied upon for potatoes, but is often applied in 
larger quantities for them than for any other crop. It is probable, 
that independent of its liberal supply of all necessary constituents, 
its beneficial effects are in a considerable degree due to its influence 
on the mechanical condition of the soil, rendering it more porous and 
easily permeable to the surface roots, upon the development of which 
the success of the crop so much depends. Then, again, something 
may be due to an increased temperature of the surface soil, en- 
gendered by the decomposition of so large an amount of organic 
matter within it ; while the carbonic acid evolved in the decomposi- 
tion will, with the aid of moisture, serve to render the mineral re- 
sources of the soil more soluble. 

In countries where the potato is largely grown for the manufacture 
of starch, the specific gravity serves as an important indication of 
quality. The higher the specific gravity, the greater, as a rule, is the 
proportion of dry matter, and the greater the proportion of starch. 
Indeed, tables are constructed for the calculations of the percentage 
of dry matter, and of starch from the specific gravity of the tubers. 

The general conclusion to which these calculations as to the dis- 
tribution of the various constituents of potato tubers leads is, that 
from 80 to 85 per cent., or even more, of the total nitrogen of the tu- 
bers may be in the juice, and that about the same proportion of the 
total mineral matter also may be in the juice. Further, that about 
the same proportion — 80 to 85 per cent. — of the total potash, and 
about two -thirds of the total phosphoric acid, are in the juice. And 
when it is borne in mind that two-thirds, or more, of the nitrogen ex- 
isting as albuminoids is in the juice, it is obvious that if the mode of 
cooking the potato is such as to exclude the constituents of the juice 
from the final food product, there is considerable waste of nutritive 
matter ; and that, indeed, the proportion of albuminoid matter in the 
food is exceedingly small. When potatoes are used as a mere ad- 
junct to an otherwise liberal diet, the general practice is to cut off 
the rind, and to put the peeled potatoes into cold water, by which a 
large proportion of the soluble albuminoid matters must be washed 
out, before the temperature of the water becomes sufficiently high 
to coagulate and fix them. A very large proportion of the potash 
must also be washed out under such circumstances. When, how- 
ever, potatoes constitute an important item in the diet, as in the ru- 



68 The New Potato Culture. 

ral districts of Ireland, for example, it is usual to boil them in their 
skins, or, as it is said, in their jackets. Under such circumstences, 
certainly a much larger proportion of the albuminoid matter will 
reach the stomachs of the consumers ; and doubtless much more of 
the potash and phosphoric acid also. Still, it is obvious that a potato 
diet must be very deficient in the proportion of nutritive nitrogenous 
compounds. 

The produce of dry substance of tubers was, without manure, 
x '352> pounds per acre ; with purely mineral manure, 2,384 pounds ; 
and with the mixture of the mineral and nitrogenous manures 
("complete") more than 4,000 pounds per acre. 

Potatoes are reckoned to contain on an average more than 21 per 
cent, of starch. 

The produce of starch per acre is 1,120 pounds without manure, 
and 1,988 or nearly 2,000 pounds with purely mineral manure — that 
is without nitrogen. The amount witb purely nitrogenous manure is 
not so great as that with purely mineral manure. But with both 
nitrogenous and mineral manure (" complete") the quantity of starch 
is raised to an average of about 3,400 pounds, or about 1% ton 
per acre. 



CHAPTER VIII 




The Effects of Different Quantities of Fertilisers and Manures. 

FERTILIZERS VERSUS MANURES. 

N NO other crop have we had such telling results from the 
use of chemical fertilizers, as compared with farm manure, 
as upon potatoes, and this has been the case during the 
past twelve years without any exception that is now recalled. 
This seems to have been the experience of many other farmers. 
Upon oats and corn, and vegetables of various kinds, fertilizers have 
occasionally failed to increase the crop, while farm manures in contigu- 
ous plots have produced marked effects. The experiments which we 
now have to record are no exceptions, though all the conditions 
seemed favorable to a decided and impartial test. 

Tne land (a sandy loam) had never received any chemical fertili- 
sers, and, for 15 years at least, no manure of any kind. Two plots 
were measured off, one-tenth of an acre each, that is 132x33 feet. 
The first received three tons of stable manure, or at the rate of 30 
tons to the acre in October. The seed potatoes (Great Eastern) 
were cut to two eyes each and planted April 22, in drills %y 2 feet 
apart, and 14 inches apart in the drills. Both plots were cultivated 
once and hoed twice, the soil being kept level without any hilling up 
about the plants. The yield was 24 bushels and 3 pecks, or at the 
rate of 247.50 bushels to the acre, of which 80 per cent, were market- 
able. 

The second plot received instead of the stable manure 200 pounds 
of potato fertilizer, or at the rate of one ton to the acre, the seed 
pieces, distance of planting and treatment being iust the same as 

(69) 



70 The New Potato Culture. 

with the fks-t plot. The yield was 27^ bushels, or at the rate of 275 
bushels to the acre, of which go per cent, were marketable. The po- 
tatoes were smoother and brighter and less injured by wire worms 
than those of the manure plot. 

The cost of the manure delivered was three dollars per ton, or nine 
dollars for the plot. The cost of the potato fertilizer was $48 per 
ton, or $4.80 for the plot. The guaranteed analysis of the latter was, 
ammonia, 4.50 to 5 per cent; phosphoric acid, 8 to 10 per cent; 
potash, 6 to 8 per cent., magnesia, lime, soda, etc., forming the rest. 

The season was unfavorable throughout. 

If potatoes had been raised on the same plots the next year with- 
out fertilizer or manure, possibly or even probably the manured plot 
would have outyielded the fertilized plot, because if for no other 
reason, the nitrogen of the latter, being soluble, would have passed 
through the soil, while the farm manure would have yielded nitrogen 
for that and subsequent seasons. 

THE EFFECTS OF INCREASING QUANTITIES OF FERTILIZERS ON 
LAND MORE OR LESS IMPOVERISHED. 

What amount of potato fertilizer can I use profitably on my land 
for this crop ? By potato fertilizer is meant that which is sold as 
such by leading fertilizer manufacturers, costing from #40 to $45 per 
ton, and analyzing about four per cent, of nitrogen, ten per cent, of 
phosphoric acid, and seven per cent, of potash. It is a question 
which a farmer must answer for himself, and that the question may be 
answered it is the object of these experiments to show. My experi- 
ment land, as has been shown, needs all kinds of plant food. Noth- 
ing less than a " complete " potato fertilizer will materially increase 
the crop. For example, if the above fertilizer be deprived of either 
potash, nitrogen or phosphoric acid, no matter in how great quantities 
the remainder is applied, no material increase in the crop will be 
given. This is true of this particular land. Upon other farms, any 
one or two might increase the yield as much as if all were used, in 
which case the cost of the omitted ingredients would be saved. 
Whether special or complete fertilizers will prove more profitable 
depends entirely upon what the land needs, and this vital question is 
what each farmer must find out for himself. 



Effects of Different Quantities of Fertilizers. 71 

The trenches were dug about a foot wide and four inches deep, as in 
most of the potato experiments herein recorded. The seed pieces 
were placed in the bottom, exactly a foot apart, and lightly covered 
with soil, and the various quantities of fertilizers as stated in the fol- 
lowing tables were evenly strewn in the trenches. The fertilizer used 
in this series of experiments was the " Stockbridge Potato Manure, ' 
the analysis and cost of which are approximately given above. The 
variety planted was the Rural Blush. 

FIRST SERIES. 

No. 1. 220 pounds to the acre. The yield was at the rate of 
276.83 bushels to the acre. 

No. 2. 440 pounds of fertilizer to the acre. Yield, 330 bushels to 
the acre. 

No. 3. 880 pounds of fertilizer. Yield, 397.83 bushels to the acre. 

No. 4. Natural soil. The yield was at the rate of 163.16 bushels 
to the acre. 

No. 5. 220 pounds of fertilizer to the acre (duplicate of No. 1). 
The yield was at the rate of 245.66 bushels to the acre. 

No. 6. 440 pounds of fertilizer to the acre (duplicate of No. 2). 
The yield was 370.33 bushels to the acre. 

No. 7. 880 pounds of fertilizer to the acre (duplicate of No. 3). 
The yield was at the rate of 476.66 bushels to the acre. 

Averaging the two separate trials, we have : 

220 pounds fertilizer. Yield 261.24 bushels. 
440 " •' " 35° l6 

880 " " " 437-24 

Natural soil. " 162 16 

It appears, then, that 220 pounds of this fertilizer strewn in the 
trenches, as above explained, increased the yield over the unfertil- 
ized soil at the rate of 98 bushels to the acre : 440 pounds, 187 
bushels ; 880 pounds, 274 bushels. 

The above experiments show that thus far 880 pounds of the fer- 
tilizer may profitably be used to the acre. How much more than that 
amount can be profitably used will beehown in the next trials in which 
the comparative results of stable manure are also given. The prom- 
ise of the yields, as judged by the growth and appearance of the 



72 The New Potato Culture. 

vines, is shown by ratings made by two persons, June 27. Ten (10), 
as in trials previously reported, was fixed as the highest rating. 

Plot 1, rated June 27 (220 pounds fertilizer), 4. 

2, " " 440 " " 6. 

" 3, " " 880 " " 8. 

"4. " 000 " 2 

DUPLICATES. 

Plot 5, rated June 27 (220 pounds fertilizer), 5. 

" 6, " " 440 " 7. 

" 7, " " 880 " " 9. 

SULPHATE OF IRON HARMFUL. 

In this experiment Williams, Clark & Co.'s potato fertilizer was 
used, the minimum guaranteed analysis being ammonia four per 
cent., soluble phosphoric acid five per cent., potash eight per cent. 

No. 1 received at the rate of 19,800 pounds of New York stable 
manure per acre. The yield was at the rate of 328.16 bushels to 
the acre. 

No. 2 received neither manure nor fertilizer. The yield was 
212.66 bushels to the acre. 

No. 3 received 420 pounds of the fertilizer. The yield was 245.66. 

No. 4 received 880 pounds. The yield was 330 bushels. 

No. 5 received 880 pounds of the fertilizer and at the rate of 440 
pounds to the acre of sulphate of iron. The yield was 309.83 bushels 
to the acre. 

No. 6 received 1,320 pounds of the potato fertilizer. The yield was 
at the rate of 388.66 bushels to the acre. 

No. 7 received 1,320 pounds of the potato fertilizer with 440 
pounds of the sulphate of iron. The yield was 379.50 bushels. 

No. 8 nothing. Yield 264.00 — the highest yield ever made in this 
particular soil without manure or fertilizer. 

No. 9 received 1,760 pounds of the potato fertilizer. Yield, 443.66. 

No. 10 received 2,200 pounds to the acre of the potato fertilizer. 
The yield was nearly the same as No. 9, viz., 443 bushels. No. 11 
received 2,640 pounds. The yield was 480.33. 

No. 12 received at the rate of 880 pounds of the potato fertilizer 
and also 200 pounds of ground fish, 660 pounds of kainit, 440 of bone 



Effects of Different Quant it es of Fertilizers. 73 

flour, and 440 pounds of nitrate of soda — 2, 640 pounds to the acre in 
all. With this excessive application of all kinds of plant food, hut 
especially of nitrogen, the yield was 361.16 bushels to the acre. 

In this experiment the yield is profitably increased by this fertilizer 
up to 1,760 pounds to the acre. The tabulated figures are : 

440 pounds fertilizer 245.66 bushels. 

880 " " 330.00 " 

1,320 " " 388.66 

1,760 " 443.66 

2,200 " " 443.00 " 

2,640 " " 480.33 

That No. 8 without any fertilizer should have yielded more than 
No. 3, which received 440 pounds to the acre, cannot be accounted 
for. That 2,200 pounds gave no greater yield than 1,760 pounds, 
while 2 640 pounds largely increased the yield over either, is also in- 
explicable. 

The copperas decreased the yield in both trials. 
As in previous trials of the several plots, as judged by the growth 
and appearance of the vines, the promise of yield is shown by ratings 
made by two persons June 27, ten (10) being the highest. 

No. 1 Rated 5 1,980 lbs. stable manure. 

2 " 3 Nothing. 

" 3 " 4 440 fertilizer. 

4 " 6 8S0 

5 " 6 880 

6 " 8 1,320 

I 1,320 fertilizer. 

No. 7 Rated 8 - ... . . 

1 I 440 sulphate of iron. 

8 ' ; 3 Nothing. 

9 " 10 1,760 fertilizer. 

10 .... " 10 ... 2,200 " 

" 11 " 10 2,640 " 

12 " 8 2,640 mixed fertilizer. 



HOW MUCH FERTILIZER MAY BE PROFITABLY USED FOR POTATOES 

ON AN IMPOVERISHED SOIL THAT NEEDS 

"COMPLETE" FERTILIZER? 

The soil on which these experiments have been carried on for the 
past two years is so impoverished that the yield by the most careful 
trench culture without fertilizer is less than 150 bushels of potatoes 



74 



The New Potato Culture. 



to the acre, while paying crops of corn or vegetables of ari / kind are 
out of the question. Fertilizer has been used from 400 to 2,200 
pounds to the acre for two seasons on this particular plot, and for four 
other seasons on two other fields, and the results have been essentially 
the same, whether the weather has been wet or dry. The variety was 
the Rural Blush. The season was the wettest ever known. 



FIRST SERIES. 

Plot i. Natural soil 161.33 bushels per acre 

2. 440 pounds fertilizer 190.66 

3. 880 212.66 

4. 1,320 " 278.66 

5- 1.760 " 33°oo 

6. 2,200 " 308.00 



SECOND SERIES. 

Plot 7. Natural soil 154.00 bushels per acre. 

8. 440 pounds fertilizer 187.00 

9. 880 " 216.33 

10. 1,320 245.66 

11. 1,760 " 297.00 

12. 2,200 " 330.00 



THIRD SERIES. 

Plot 13. Natural soil H7-33 bushels per acre. 

" 14. 440 pounds fertilizer 128.33 " 

15. 880 " 19S.00 

" 16. 1,320 " 2S2.33 " 

" 17. 1,760 " 300.00 " 

" iS. 2,200 " 344.66 " 

FOURTH SERIES. 



Plot 19. 

" 20. 



23- 

24. 



Natural soil 146.66 bushels per acre. 

440 pounds fertilizer 165. 

880 " 238.33 

1,320 " 304-33 

1,760 ^49-33 

2,200 " 363.00 



Effect of Different Quantities of Fertilizers. 



75 



AVERAGES. 

Natural soil 144 bushels per acre. 

440 pounds fertilizer 168 

880 " 216 

1,320 " 278 

1,760 " 294 

2,200 " 336 

Rot prevailed more than ever before. The rotten potatoes were 
not estimated. The vines were injured by the flea-beetle and died 
nearly one month earlier than usual. The tubers seemed to be about 
three-quarters of the normal size. 

It would seem that farmers cultivating impoverished land should 
learn a valuable lesson from these experiments, which have been con- 
ducted long enough to prove that there is a reasonable chance of 
raising profitable crops of potatoes by the liberal use of high-grade 
fertilizers. The guaranteed analysis of the fertilizer used is as 
follows : 

Ammonia 4>4 per cent. 

Phosphoric acid 8 to 10 

Potash 6 to 8 

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT QUANTITIES OF FERTILIZERS ON POTA- 
TOES GROWN IN A VARIABLE SOIL. 



lot 30— 


220 pou 


" 36- 


220 ' 


" 40— 


220 


" 31— 


440 


" 37— 


440 


" 4 1 — 


440 


" 32— 


880 


" 38- 


8S0 


" 42— 


880 


" 33—1 


,320 


" 44— 1 


,320 


" 34 — 1 


,760 


" 39—1 


,760 


" 43— 


000 


" 35— 


000 ' 



nds, yielded at the rate per acre of 258.50 bushels. 

205.33 



. 172 

.298 

•253 
-253 

■282 33 
.227. 
231. 
,.228.16 
.,242. 
..280 
..242. 

..161.33 
.132. 



7 6 



The New Potato Culture. 



SUMMARY. 

The average crop of the plots that did not receive any fer- 
tilizer was at the rate per acre of 146.66 bushels. 

220 pounds gave 212.05 

440 " " 268. 28 

880 " " 246.78 

1,320 " " 28508 

1 , 760 " " 261. 

The variety planted was the Rural Blush. Some of the vines were 
greatly, some lightly, and a few not at all, injured by the flea-beetle. 
The fertilizer used was the Stockbridge potato manure. 



ON AN ADJACENT PLOT. 

These trials as to the effects of increasing amounts of fertilizers 
were again carried on during the past season — 1890. The season 
was remarkable for the amount and frequency of rainfall and for 
comparatively few potato beetles. Flea-beetles were less numerous 
and blight less destructive than during the two preceding seasons. 
The plots have never (so far as the writer can ascertain) received any 
manure or fertilizer of any kind prior to the last three years, when 
these potato experiments were begun on this particular land. The 
soil is variable, being in parts a stiff clay while in other portions it is 
more of a loamy character. Mapes' potato fertilizer, the analysis of 
which has been given, was used in quantities at the rate of from 220 
to 1,760 pounds to the acre. The trenches and culture given were the 
same as in preceding trials, the variety Rural Blush. 



Plot 



220 pounds to the acre yield 156 bushels. 



b- 


- 220 


2— 


- 440 


7- 


- 44° 


3- 


- 880 


8- 


- 880 


4- 


-1,760 


9- 


-1,760 


5- 


-Nothing 



139 

187 

176 
229. 16 

210.83 

313 
298.80 

196.16 



Effect of Different Quantities of Fertilizers. 77 

AVERAGES. 

No fertilizer gave per acre 196. 16 bushels. 

220 pounds fertilizer gave per acre 147.50 

440 " " " 181.50 

8S0 " " " 219.99 

1,760 " " " 3°5-9o 

TOTAL AVERAGES. 

No fertilizer yielded per acre 187.77 bushels. 

220 pounds fertilizer yielded 206.93 

440 pounds fertilizer yielded 242.72 

880 pounds fertilizer yielded 290.00 

1,320 pounds fertilizer yielded 3 I 7- 2 5 " 

1,760 pounds fertilizer yielded 326.14 

10 tons (nearly, viz., 19,800 lbs.) stable manure yielded. 328. 16 
30 tons stable manure yielded, in a less favorable season, 247.50 " 
Average of stable manure 287.83 

In what way is our friend, the reader, to turn the above experiments 
to his own advantage ? Were his land the same he would naturally 
reason in this wise: "The natural soil, I find, may be relied upon 
to give 188 bushels to the acre. To be on the safe side I will estimate 
their market value at 50 cents the bushel. That would give $94 
worth of potatoes to the acre. Now, 220 pounds of fertilizer costing 
$4.40 (or $40 per ton) gives an increase of 19 bushels, which at 50 
cents the bushel are worth $9.50. I am a gainer, for the use of the 
fertilizer, of $9. 50 per acre, less $4.40, or $5.10 per acre. If I use 440 
pounds of fertilizer I am, by the same figuring, a gainer of $27.50. 
If I use 880 pounds of fertilizer I gain $51.00; 1,320 pounds, $64.50; 
1,760 pounds, $69.00, not to consider the advantage which will ac- 
crue to succeeding crops by excessive applications." 

But the chances are largely against the assumption that his land 
is the same, or so nearly the same, that he would be safe in adopting 
the above conclusions as safe to work upon. There is not one to ad- 



78 The New Potato Culture. 

vise him wherein he should proceed different]}'. Analysis of his soil 
would not be an infallible guide. The brightest agricultural chemist 
in the world could give him no positive information as to the kind and 
quality of fertilizer which might be most economically used. Mani- 
festly, therefore, he must become his own teacher, and he can do this 
in no other more effective way than by instituting a similar set of ex- 
periments on his own fields, guided by the intimations which stable, 
farm-yard, hen or other manure, ashes or other partial manures may 
have in past seasons afforded. In effectually carrying on such a 
series of simple investigations, subsequent parts of this book may be 
of assistance. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Shall the Fertiliser be Placed Under or Over the Seed Pieces ? 

IT IS not known to the writer that any effective experiments have 
been made to solve this seemingly important problem. If the old 
way — or ordinary way — of planting potatoes be pursued, viz., 
placing the pieces in a shallow plow-furrow and then throwing the 
furrow soil back, it may have little significance one way or the other. 
But if the trench system be followed, there might reasonably be expect- 
ed a decided difference — a difference modified of course by rainfall — 
whether the applied food be below or above the pieces. The experi- 
ments were begun ten years ago for a siDgle season, and resumed 
four years ago. The following plain tables will set forth the outcome 
up to this time. Evidently the trials should be made not only in 
light, medium and heavy soils, but for many years ere an emphatic 
answer could reasonably be looked for. 

The trenches were dug about five inches deep, three feet apart, 
and a foot wide. The Stockbridge * potato fertilizer (880 lbs. to the 
acre) was spread under and over the pieces (Blush), separated from 
them in either case by two inches of soil. The season was favor- 
able, being neither too wet nor too dry. 

FERTILIZER UNDER. 

No. 1, per acre 359 33 bushels. 

" 3. " " 3I3-33 

" 5. " " 412.50 

" 7. " " 33 000 

* The average analysis of this fertilizer is given as ammonia, five per cent , phosphoric 
acid, 10 per cent ; potash, six per cent. 

(79) 



8o 



The New Potato Cult are. 



No. g, per acre 310. 20 bushels. 



11, 
13. 
15. 
17. 
19. 



335-5° 
297 00 

392 33 
289.66 
289.66 



3,329.51 bushels. 
Or at the average rate of 332.95 bushels to the acre. 



FERTILIZER OVER. 



No. 2, per acre 359. 33 bushels. 



4. 

6, 

8, 

10, 

12, 

M. 
16, 



339 


16 


339 


16 


322 


66 


419 


83 


322 


66 


311 


66 


365 


00 


354 5° 



3, 13396 bushels. 

Or at the average rate of 348.21 bushels of potatoes to the acre. 
We have thus far a difference of over 15 bushels in favor of placing 
the fertilizer above the seed pieces. 



UNDER AND OVER EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED FOR THE SECOND 

YEAR. 

The trenches were dug the same depth, viz., five inches. In the 
'-fertilizer under" trials, the fertilizer was strewn in the bottom of the 
trenches and the seed pieces (Blush) placed on or in contact with the 
fertilizer. In the " fertilizer over" trials, the pieces were placed in 
the bottom of the trenches, and the trenches filled to within one inch. 
The fertilizer (the same as that used in the experiments recorded 
above) was then strewn on this soil in the trenches, at the rate of 
1,300 pounds to the acre, and the remaining inch of the trench filled 
in and the soil leveled. Fractions are omitted in the results. The 
season was wet. 



Fertilizer Under or Over the Seed Pieces. 



81 



Plot i, fertilizer under 293 bushels p 

"2, " over 293 

' ' 3, " under 205 

" 4, " over 293 

5, " under 213 

"6, " over 275 

" 7, " under. 176 

" 8, " over 176 " 

"9, " under 279 ' ' 

"10, " over 260 ' ' 

" 11, " under 242 

"12, " over 308 " 



AVERAGE. 



Under 235 bushels per acre. 

Over 268 bushels per acre. 



SHALL THE FERTILIZER BE PLACED UNDER OR OVER THE SEED 
PIECES ? THIRD YEAR (1890). 

The trenches were dug this times six inches deep. In the "ferti- 
lizer under" trials, the fertilizer was strewn in the bottom of the 
trenches, and the seed pieces (Rural Blush) placed on (in contact 
with) the fertilizer. In the "fertilizer over" trials, the pieces were 
placed in the bottom, as with the others, and five inches of soil were 
returned. Then the fertilizer was sown on this soil, the remaining 
soil (one inch) being replaced to fill the trench. 

No. 1, fertilizer under ; yield per acre 232.83 

"3. " ' 2 53 

" 5, " " " " 269.50 

"7. " " " " 255.65 

"9. " 254.83 

Average yield per acre 253. 16 

No. 2, fertilizer over ; yield per acre 214.50 

"4, " " " " .- 225.50 

"6, " " " " 218.16 

" 8, " " " " 245.66 

" 10, " " :* " 265.83 



Average yield per acre 233.93 



82 The New Potato Culture. 

A difference in favor of placing the fertilizer under, of 19.23 bushels 
per acre. The fertilizer used in this and the preceding trial was the 
Mapes' potato, at the rate of 1,000 pounds to the acre. The season 
was wet throughout, one of the wettest remembered. 

IN THE SEASON OF 1889, 

which was also a wet season, and when the crop was thought to be 
lessened by the flea-beetle and blight, the average results were as fol- 
lows, as above recorded. 

Under yielded an average per acre of . . . . 235 bushels. 
Over " " " 268 

A difference of 55 bushels per acre in favor of placing the ferti- 
lizer over. 

DURING THE SEASON OF 1888, 

Stockbridge potato fertilizer was used at the rate of 800 pounds to 
the acre, as also stated. The season was favorable as to rain-fall, it 
being neither too much nor too little, while the tops were not harmed 
by flea-beetles or blight : 

Under yielded an average per acre of . . . . 332.95 bushels. 
Over " " " .... 348.21 " 

We have a difference of 15.26 bushels per acre in favor of placing 
the fertilizer over. 

A GENERAL SUMMARY 

of the averages for the three years shows as follows : 

Fertilizer over, per acre 283.38 bushels. 

" under " 273.70 " 

Difference in favor of fertilizer over. . 9.68 '' 



CHAPTER X. 



Results of Planting Potatoes in 'Trenches of Different 'Depths. 

FIRST TRIALS. 

THE soil of these plots, naturally variable, was made exceed- 
ingly so by grading, the soil from the higher parts having 
been carted to the lower places. It is in some parts a sandy 
loam, in others a clay loam, and in still other parts a stiff 
brick-clay, all impoverished by years of cropping without any manure 
of any kind. These potato experiments were in previous years made 
on plots of notably uniform soil, so impoverished that anything short 
of a " complete" fertilizer failed to materially increase the crops. 

This was proven so conclusively that there seemed to be no reason 
why the trials should be continued upon them. 

The following exhibit, as might well have been anticipated from the 
variability of the soil, seems to show that the depth of planting 
should be governed by the character of the soil. At the rate of 800 
pounds of Stockbridge potato fertilizer was sown in the trenches 
after the seed pieces were lightly covered. The trenches were three 
feet apart, measuring in this trial, as in every other, from the middle 
of each. 

Plot 2i, 4 inches deep yielded 403.33 bushels per acre. 

"23, " " " 34 8 -33 

" 27, " " " 363 .00 

This gives an average, for four-inch deep planting, of 371.55 
bushels to the acre. 

Plot 20, 8 inches deep yielded 385.00 bushels per acre. 

"22, " " " 300.66 " " 

"26, " " " 355-66 " " 

"29 " " " 311.66 " " 

- (83) 



84 The New Potato Culture. 

This gives an average per acre, for eight inches deep planting, of 
338.24. 

Plot 24, 10 inches deep yielded 267.66 bushels per acre. 

' 25, " " " 381.33 

" 28, " " " 384.16 

This gives an average per acre, for ten-inch deep planting, of 311.05 
bushels. 

SUMMARY. 

Ten-inch planting 31105 bushels 

Eight-inch planting 338.24 " 

Four-inch planting 37 T -55 " 

The variety planted was the Rural Blush. Some of the vines were 
greatly, some slightly, and a few not at all injured by the flea-beetle. 

in 1889, 

one of the wettest seasons known, the average results, much reduced 
by blight and the flea-beetle, were as follows : 

Two inches, per acre 226 bushels. 

Four " •' " , 220 " 

Six " " " 185 " 

Eight 177 

Ten 148 

TRIALS OF 1890. 

The trenches were dug two, four, six, eight and ten inches deep, 
and the fertilizer was sown at the rate of 1,000 pounds to the acre in 
the trenches after the seed pieces had received an inch covering of 
soil. The fertilizer used was the Mapes potato, analyzing as follows : 
Ammonia, 4.50 per cent.; phosphoric acid, eight; potash, six; the 
minimum quantities guaranteed. The soil of these plots is naturally 
poor and thin — a loam inclining rather to clay than to sand. It has 
never received any manure in so far as the writer has been able to 
learn — certainly not within the past 19 years. The season was wet 
throughout. There were so few potato-beetles that it was necessary 
to apply Paris-green but once. Then it was sifted upon the vines — 
\y 2 pound to 200 pounds of plaster, thoroughly mixed together on a 



Results of Pla?iti?ig at Various Depths. 



85 



tight board floor. The mass of plaster was first spread over the floor 
about two inches in thickness. The poison was then as evenly as 
possible sifted over this. It was then mixed by the use of a steel 
rake, shoveled into a heap, spread out again and raked, etc., until the 
distribution of the poison seemed to be perfect. There were few flea- 
beetles and no blight, though last year on this same land, flea-beetles 
destroyed the vines several weeks before their time of maturity. 
The variety, as in all previous trials, was the Rural Blush. 

Bushels 
No. Inchrs. 



26 



per acre. 

2 3° 8 - 

4 2 97- 

6 304-33 

8 247.50 

10 276.83 

2 249. 

4 287.83 

6 302. 50 

8 265,83 

10 287.83 



260. 



4 238.33 

6 278.66 

8 223 .66 

10 269. 50 

2 260. 

4 261 .83 

6 267.66 

8 227.33 

10 236. 50 

2 280. 50 

4 278.66 

6 3I5-33 

8 3°o- 

10 240.16 

2 242. 

4 293, 

6 254. 83 

5 293. 

10 269. 50 



86 The New Potato Culture. 

Bushels 
No. Inches. per acre. 

3i- 2 258.33 

32- 4 284.17 

33- 6 247.50 

34- 8 251.16 

AVERAGES. 

Two inches depth yielded, per acre 265 40 bushels. 

Four " " " " " 277.26 

Six " " " " " 281.56 " 

Eight ' " " 258.35 

Ten " " " " " 263.38 

The difference between the greatest yield — six inches depth — and 
the smallest yield — eight inches depth — is 23.19 bushels to the acre. 
The difference between the eight inches depth and the ten inches 
depth is but five bushels to the acre. Had the season been dry we 
should naturally have looked for a larger yield from the deeper 
trenches. As it was, the difference does not at all pay for the extra 
cost of a depth of planting beyond six inches. 

AVERAGE OF TOTAL RESULTS. 

Two inches, per acre 245 .70 bushels. 

Four " " ' 289.60 

Six " " " 233.27 

Eight ' 257.86 

Ten " " " 240.81 

It will be seen that the four-inch trenches give the largest yield as 
the average of three years during which these experiments have been 
conducted. When it is considered that the eight-inch trenches give 
the next largest yield, we have evidence that the experiments have 
not been carried on long enough to warrant any positive generaliza* 
tions. 



CHAPTER XI 



Nitrogen, especially nitrate nitrogen as in nitrate of soda. Its 
effects when applied alone. May farmers derive a profit from 
its use when applied to land indiscriminately or as farm 
manure is applied? Joseph Harris's views and the author's 
answer. Experiments. 

1HAVE always taken the view, with or without sufficient data for 
intelligent guidance, that unless the farmer or gardener by actual 
test, has found out that his land is poor in nitrogen and fairly sup- 
plied with potash and phosphoric acid, conditions which are 
known rarely to exist, he cannot afford to use the nitrate of soda alone 
except in a small, experimental way. The same may be said of sul- 
phate of ammonia. This view I have taken pains to emphasize from 
time to time in several of the leading farm papers of the day. In a 
prominent horticultural magazine Mr. Joseph Harris, of Moreton 
Farm — the author of several interesting and very instructive books 
on farm topics — has criticised these opinions, as may be seen by the 
following remarks : 

mr. Harris's criticisms. 

"Mr. Carman says: 'It is much to be regretted that certain 
writers are advocating the use of nitrate of soda. Unless the land is 
well supplied with potash and phosphoric acid and needs nitrogen 
alone, nitrogen will not materially increase the crop.' 

" This is a self-evident proposition. And the same thing might be 
said of soda, lime, magnesia, sulphuric acid and iron. All these ingre- 
dients of plants are absolutely essential to healthy plant growth. 

"There are people who contend that to maintain the productive- 

(37) 



88 The New Potato Culture. 

ness of our land it is necessary to return to the soil the amount of 
plant food that the crops remove. They overlook the fact that a cer- 
tain amount of plant food is rendered available each year from the 
store of plant food lying dormant in the soil. If this is sufficient we 
need use no manure. If any one element is deficient, we must supply 
the deficiency or be satisfied with a deficient yield. The weakest link 
in a chain determines the strength of the whole chain. If we find out 
the weakest link and strengthen it, then some other link would be the 
weakest. As a rule, for most garden crops our soils are deficient, 
ist, in nitrogen ; and when this is supplied, they are deficient, 2nd, 
in phosphoric acid ; and when this is supplied they are deficient, 3rd, 
in potash, and so on through every link in the chain. 

" For forty years or more, efforts have been made to find out what 
ingredients of plant food are most likely to be deficient. It was pro- 
posed to analyze the soils. This was found to be practically useless. 
The idea was then advanced that the amount of plant food in the 
crops would tell us the amount necessary to apply in manure. Lawes 
and Gilbert's experiments, over forty years ago, demonstrated the 
fallacy of this idea, but every now and then it shoots up again and 
grows as vigorously and perniciously as ever. 

"What we need, especially in garden crops, is not 'soil tests,' but 
experiments that will show what plants require a 'sap of the soil' 
specially i-ich in nitrogen or in phosphoric acid or potash. In other 
words, we want to ascertain the weakest link in the supply of food 
for different plants ; and there is no way of getting at the facts ex- 
cept by actual experiments. 

"When Mr. Carman says it is much to be regretted that we are 
advocating the use of nitrate of soda, he overlooks the fact that we 
advocate the use of superphosphate with equal earnestness, and, in 
some cases, of potash also. The object of these articles was to show 
that when gardeners use the ordinary commercial fertilizers, they 
spend a great deal of money for plant food that their crops do not 
need. For instance, if they want to apply 100 pounds of nitrogen on 
an acre of land, and 50 pounds of phosphoric acid, and buy a fertilizer 
guaranteed to contain 2 per cent, of nitrogen and 12 per cent, of phos- 
phoric acid, they will have to sow 5,000 pounds to the acre, and this 
will furnish twelve times as much phosphoric acid as is required. 
What we contend for is that they should buy the necessary phos- 



The Use of Nitrogen. 89 

phoric acid in the cheapest and best form and be sure to use enough 
of it, but not too much. To put on twelve times as much soluble 
phosphoric acid as is needed, in order to get the necessary nitrogen, 
is folly. If you want nitrogen as well as phosphoric acid, buy the 
nitrogen in the cheapest and best form. If we recommend nitrate of 
soda to those who wish to buy nitrogen, it is because the nitrogen is 
in the best and most available form, and because, at the present time, 
it is the cheapest source of nitrogen. 

"There are enormous beds of it in South America, and its use in 
Europe is rapidly increasing, while with us it is almost unknown. 
It certainly is well worth our while to see if, especially in our dry and 
sunny climate, we cannot use it to great advantage. 

"Mr. Carman further says: ' In experiments made at the Rural 
Grounds during two seasons, to ascertain the effect of nitrogen on 
potatoes, it was found that additional quantities of nitrate of soda, or 
sulphate of ammonia, or blood, or all three, beyond what was supplied 
by the ' complete ' fertilizer, did not increase the yield in any case. 
* * From 1,200 to 2,000 pounds of the fertilizer was used, 
guaranteed to contain 3', per cent, of nitrogen, 12 per cent, of phos- 
phoric acid and 6 per cent, of potash. It appears, therefore, that the 
amount of nitrogen supplied by the fertilizer was amply sufficient for 
the crop's needs, and that the added nitrogen was so much money 
thrown away.' 

" Mr. Carman made better experiments than his allusion to them 
above would indicate. Our own personal objection to them is that 
they were on too small a scale to carry conviction to an old farmer 
and gardener. The plots were only ^^ part of an acre each. One 
good feature, however, was that four plots were left without manure. 
These plots produced at the rate of 88, 97, 68 and 59 bushels per 
acre each. The variation in the land, therefore, was 38 bushels per 
acre. Bearing this fact in mind, let us look at some of the more im- 
portant results bearing on the subject we are discussing. 

" RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS ON POTATOES BY E. S. CARMAN. 

Bushels 

per acre. 

"i — No manure (average 4 plots) 74 

2 — 300 pounds sulphate of potash 95 

3 — 400 pounds superphosphate 103 



90 The New Potato Culture. 

Bushels 
per acre. 

"4 — 200 pounds nitrate of soda 141 

5 — 1,100 pounds blood, nitrate of soda and sulphate of am- 
monia 183 

6 — 10 tons two-year-old farm manure 139 

7 — 200 pounds nitrate of soda ) 

120 pounds nitrate of potash S 

8 — 200 pounds nitrate of soda \ 

120 pounds muriate of potash - x 5 6 

700 pounds superphosphate ' 

" There is certainly nothing in these results contradictory to the 
principles we have advocated. Mr. Carman states that the soil had 
been cropped for many years without manure of any kind, and that 
it ' would not grow beans, or even a good crop of weeds without 
manure.' And yet it will be seen that nitrogen alone, on plot 5, pro- 
duced 183 bushels of potatoes per acre, while on plot 8, 1,020 pounds 
of a ' complete manure ' produced only 156 bushels, or 27 bushels 
less than nitrogen alone. Why is this ? Did the phosphoric acid 
and potash do harm ? No ; there was not nitrogen enough. The 
phosphoric acid and potash could not increase the crop for lack of 
nitrogen. 

" Mr. Carman tells us that he used from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds of a 
complete fertilizer, guaranteed to contain 3^ per cent, of nitrogen, 
12 per cent, phosphoric acid and 6 per cent, of potash, and that 
when he added more nitrogen, it did no good. Why should it ! Oats 
are good for horses, but when a horse has all the oats he will eat, 
throwing more oats in the manger will not increase his strength or 
improve his appearance. If the ton of complete fertilizer furnished 
all the nitrogen the plants wanted, more could do no good. But for 
the sake of getting 70 pounds of nitrogen, what folly it is to use a ton 
of fertilizer that contains a greal deal more phosphoric acid, costing 
8 cents per lb., than the crop can possibly want ? This is the point 
we wish to impress on our readers. And it is a matter of surprise 
that so clear-headed and able a man as Mr. Carman does not see 
that his own experiments demonstrate, if they demonstrate anything, 
that, so far as the production of potatoes is concerned, this worn out 
soil, that was so poor that it would not grow a good crop of weeds, 
was more deficient in available nitrogen than in any other constituent 



The Use of Nitrogen. 91 

of plant-food. Superphosphate and potash, without nitrogen, did no 
good. They could produce no effect from lack of nitrogen. Thirty- 
two pounds of nitrogen per acre, in the form of nitrate of soda, 
raised the crop from 74 bushels per acre (or possibly 59 bushels) to 
141 bushels per acre. The same amount of nitrogen on plot 8, in 
1,020 lbs. of ' complete manure ' produced 156 bushels, the 820 lbs. 
of superphosphate and potash only increasing the yield 15 bushels 
per acre — not as much as the difference in yield of the unmanured 
plots. Nitrogen alone, on plot 5, produced 183 bushels per acre. It 
is clear, therefore, that a complete manure, like that used on plot 8, 
containing about 3X P er cent, of nitrogen, is a very costly and 
' badly balanced ration ' for potatoes. It does not, for Mr. Car- 
man's poor, worn-out soil, contain half nitrogen enough. It is true 
that by using enough of it you could grow a large crop, but it would 
be done at a fearful and unnecessary expense. We feel perfectly safe 
in saying that a ton of it per acre would produce no larger a crop 
than half a ton that contained double the amount of nitrogen. 

"A complete manure, such as that used on plot 8, would probably 
cost $40 per ton. The 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda in the mixture can 
be bought for $5. In other words, the phosphoric acid and potash in 
the ton of this complete manure cost $35. Leave half of it out and 
double the nitrate and you will, in my judgment, get quite as large a 
crop at far less cost. There is nothing in Mr. Carman's experiments, 
or any other, to lead me to suppose otherwise. 

"Moreton Farm. Joseph Harris." 

REPLY TO JOSEPH HARRIS. 

Mr. Joseph Harris's views are no doubt as sound as a dollar in the 
general principles which they advocate ; but the instances which he 
cites in proof of his conclusions are possibly open to criticism. 

For a year or so past certain writers have advocated a more gen- 
erous use of nitrate of soda, in a way to lead those who have given 
little thought to chemical fertilizer questions to assume that it is in 
itself a fertilizer which will inoure a profitable increase of crop, re- 
gardless of the needs of the soil. I have therefore repeatedly 
cautioned my readers not to use nitrate of soda (or nitrogen in any 
soluable form) unless it is known that the land is already proportion- 
ately supplied with available phosphoric acid and potash. Nitrogen 



92 The New Potato Czdture. 

is neither more nor less valuable to the gardener or farmer than is 
either of the others. It is by far more costly, and, while the phos- 
phates and potash remain in the soil for subsequent crops, nitrate of 
soda leaves us even before the current crop is harvested. We do not 
need to tell our distinguished critic this. He knows it, and has 
taught it in his writings for many years. And yet we place Mr. Har- 
ris among those who, while cracking up nitrate of soda, has not, in 
every case or in most cases, emphasized sufficiently the insuperable 
importance of a corresponding supply of minerals. 

Mr. Harris assumes that the chemical fertilizers of to-day contain 
too small a quantity of nitrogen ; that the minerals (potash and phos- 
phate) are the strong links, and that a deficiency of nitrogen is the 
weak link of the chain by which the crop, in due proportion, will be 
diminished. This is true without a doubt in a majority of cases, and 
it is well that it is true, for if the farmer is to lose a part of the 
money he pays for fertilizers, he would better invest it in food con- 
stituents of a lower cost which will remain in his soil, than in nitrogen 
at a higher cost, which takes its leave after a single season of service. 
If a farmer, from experimentation, is fairly confident that his land is 
especially short in nitrogen, let him buy fertilizers with a high ratio 
of nitrogen ; but if he knows nothing about it, the very best thing he 
can do is to buy high-grade complete fertilizers and use them until by 
experiment he finds that more nitrogen will profitably augment his 
crops. Then he may wisely add nitrate of soda, salts of ammonia or 
organic nitrogen, as he, by trial in an inexpensive way on small plots 
here and there, may find them serviceable. The advocacy of the use 
of one-sided, low-priced fertilizers on the part of the mixers ("man- 
ufacturers ") and their agents, has done incalculable harm in the way 
of inducing those who till the soil to purchase fertilizers which do not 
furnish the full or partial meal which their land demands. The con- 
sequence is that they denounce fertilizers in toto. Thus, bone or 
South Carolina rock, kainit, superphosphates, ammoniated superphos- 
phates, sold under high-sounding, taking names, and prices far below 
those of high-grade brands, are tried and condemned, not for what 
they really are, but as "fertilizers " which are assumed to furnish 
everything in the way of plant food that the name represents. So it 
is that in every case gifted and well-known writers, like Mr. Harris, 
whose words of advice are taken without question, should place all 



The Use of Nitrogen . 93 

possible emphasis upon the economy of purchasing either high-grade 
complete fertilizers, or of " incomplete " fertilizers only as the farmer 
or gardener has learned from experiment that his land responds fully 
to bone, to potash or to nitrogen, and that the other constituents are 
not at present needed. 

Mr. Harris says that it is a matter of surprise that I do not see 
that my own experiments demonstrate that, so far as the production 
of potatoes is concerned, my worn-out soil was more deficient in nitro- 
gen than in any other constituent of plant-food. " Superphosphate and 
potash, without nitrogen, did no good. They could produce no effect 
without nitrogen. Nitrogen alone on one plot produced 183 bushels 
per acre," or, I may, add, 105 bushels above the average of the plots 
of natural soil without fertilizer. It is true that if this single trial be 
taken as a basis for comparison, Mr. Harris's reasoning is logical 
enough. It should be stated in fairness, however, that this little 
nitrogen plot yielded more for some reason than any other nitrogen- 
plot either of that year's experiments or of those of preceding years. 
Another plot which received not only the same quantity of nitrate of 
soda per acre (200 pounds), but also 200 pounds of sulphate of 
potash, produced but 90 bushels of potatoes to the acre, or 12 
bushels above the natural-soil plots. Again, raw bone (1, 100 pounds), 
furnishing perhaps three or four per cent, of ammonia, gave but 77 
bushels per acre. Again, in our similar experiments of the year be. 
fore, nitrate of soda (200 pounds) gave a yield but little more than the 
average of the natural-soil plots. The several no-fertilizer plots 
yielded an average of 143 bushels to the acre. Nitrate of soda (200 
pounds) yielded but 125 bushels, sulphate of ammonia (120 pounds) 
yielded the same, nitrate of soda (200 pounds) and dissolved bone- 
black (400 pounds) yielded 168 bushels. Nitrate of soda (200 
pounds) and sulphate of potash (300 pounds) gave 233 bushels per 
acre. Nitrate of soda (200 pounds), dissolved bone-black 400 
pounds), sulphate of potash (300 pounds) — a complete fertilizer — 
gave 217 bushels. The Mapes potato manure (800 pounds, gave 257 
bushels to the acre, while in the later experiments quoted by Mr. 
Harris, 1,200 pounds of the Mapes (3.70 nitrogen guaranteed) gave a 
yield of 273 bushels to the acre. 

From a glance at the experiments carried on during the season to 
which Mr. Harris alludes, it is admitted that nitrogen alone gave a 



94 The New Potato Culture. 

greater increase over the unmanured plots than either potash 01 
phosphoric acid or both. It is just as evident, withal, that in no in- 
stance was a large crop raised except when a high-grade complete 
fertilizer was used. Whether a smaller quantity of the fertilizer 
and an additional dose of nitrogen would have given as large a crop 
we have no proof one way or the other. If we were striving to raise 
the largest possible yield per acre, we would not use nitrogen in the 
form of nitrate of soda alone, but in the blended forms of nitrate of 
soda, sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, urate of ammonia and other 
organic salts of ammonia found in Peruvian guano, all of them solu- 
ble, but in varying degrees. Moreover, we should supply them, 
especially on light and fallow land, in minimum quantities consistent 
with experience, on account of their expense and the liability of loss 
by leaching. It is easy to supplement nitrogen to a growing crop by 
top-dressing, if it is thought that it will prove serviceable, as, es- 
pecially in the form of nitrate, it is exceedingly prompt in its action. 
On a portion of the same impoverished field upon which the potato 
trials alluded to were made, the effects cf a dressing of 150 lbs. to 
the acre of nitrate of soda on corn were plainly visible 50 feet away, 
three days after the application, in the darker color of the leaves as 
compared with the rest of the field which had received potash and 
phosphoric acid only. 

Our great authority, Sir J. B. Lawes, grew potatoes on the same 
plots for nine consecutive years, from 1876 to 1884 inclusive. The 
average yield from the use of 400 lbs. of ammonia salts alone was 
103 bushels per acre ; that from 550 lbs. of nitrate of soda was 104 
bushels. The same amount of ammonia salts, with the ash elements 
added (complete), produced an average for the nine years of 325 
bushels per acre. Nitrate of soda (550 lbs.), with the ash elements 
added, gave 300 bushels per acre. Farm-yard manure (16 tons) — an 
average of six years — gave a yield of 253 bushels per acre. 

Mr. Harris remarks that the 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda used in 
several of my experiments to form complete fertilizers, can be bought 
for $5. We agree with him that for potatoes it is an ill-balanced fer- 
tilizer in most cases, not, however, because it contains too little ni- 
trogen necessarily, but because it does not exist in varied forms and 
also because the potash is too low by half for soils deficient in potash. 
Where a large crop is anticipated it is always safer to use an excess 



The Use of Nitrogen. 95 

of food constituents, particularly of those that do not waste by leach- 
ing. Phosphoric acid is, next to nitrogen, the ingredient oftenest de- 
ficient in soils. Nine-tenths of the fertilizers used in England and 
America are mainly phosphoric acid. Potash in many soils, how- 
ever, is present in liberal quantities, and it would be unwise to supply 
it in full rations unless a known deficit exists. 

If you err at all. gardeners and farmers, it is better to err on the 
side of economy. Phosphoric acid will remain with you to feed sub- 
sequent crops. So will potash. Know that your soil needs more ni- 
trogen before you apply it in liberal doses. Nitrogen costs a lot of 
money, and the higher the price of experiment ingredients, the less 
the farmer should apply it without due discrimination. We say give 
the soil all the phosphoric acid you choose. You will rarely overdo 
it. Give it potash according to its needs, as nearly as you may. But 
be gentle and conservative in the use of nitrogen, unless you are 
positive it will give you full returns. It is a ruinous luxury. 

We may every one of us bear in mind that if phosphates ma- 
terially increase our crops, we have evidence, to a certain extent, that 
nitrates are the less needed at present ; if potash increase the crop, 
here is evidence that nitrates are the less needed. If both phos- 
phates and potash fail, then let the experimenter add nitrates in vary- 
ing quantities from 100 to 300 pounds to the acre, and thus in a safe, 
inexpensive way find out approximately what his land needs. 

THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN IN VARYING QUANTITIES UPON POTA- 
TOES EFFECTS OF INCREASING QUANTITIES OF FERTILIZERS. 

This question of how much nitrogen farmers or gardeners may 
with profit give to the soil is one manifestly of the first importance. 
Mr. Harris's position may be repeated and emphasized in the follow- 
ing words : " It is a matter of surprise that Mr. Carman does not 
see that his own experiments demonstrate that, so far as the produc- 
tion of potatoes is concerned, his worn-out soil was more deficient in 
nitrogen than in any other constituent of plant-food." 

It was to throw more light upon this question that the following 
trials were made during the past season (1890). Mr. Harris con- 
tends that the chemical fertilizers of to-day, as a rule, contain too 
small a quantity of nitrogen ; that the minerals (potash and phos- 



96 The New Potato Culture. 

phate) are the strong links, and that a deficiency of nitrogen is the 
weak link of the chain by which the crop, in due proportion, will be 
diminished. An injudicious advocacy of the good effects to be de- 
rived from nitrate of soda, on the part of many writers, has had a 
decided effect upon those who have not studied chemical fertilizer 
problems to induce them to jump at the conclusion that it will insure 
a profitable increase of crops regardless of the needs of the soil. 
Nitrogen (it may well be repeated) is neither more nor less valuable 
to the farmer or gardener than is either potash or phosphate. It is 
far more costly and, while the phosphate and potash remain in the 
soil for subsequent crops if not used up by the current crop, nitrate 
of soda, unless supplied in repeated doses, often fails to carry a late 
crop through to maturity. 

The plots (23 in number) were planted April 26, by the trench 
method, so often described. The variety was the Rural Blush, the 
fertilizer was the Mapes, with the following analysis : 

Ammonia 4.50 to 5 percent. 

Phosphoric acid 8 to 10 " 

Potash 6 to 8 

/ Bushels 

per acre. 

Plot 1 . No fertilizer of any kind '207. 50 

" 2. 440 lbs. potato fertilizer to the acre 214.50 

" " and ) 

(..... 249.33 
to the acre of nitrate of soda \ 

potato fertilizer and ) 

., , , , - 2 49-33 

nitrate or soda ) 

potato fertilizer and ) 

., . , , [ 284.17 

nitrate of soda ) 

potato fertilizer and ) „ 

r . I , 309-83 

nitrate of soda ) 

In the above experiment it is plain that the yield increases (with 
one exception, when they are the same) as the quantity of nitrate of 
soda increases. It must be borne in mind that but 440 pounds to 
the acre of the potato fertilizer was used in any one of the above 
six trials. 



3- 


440 




55 


4- 


440 




no 


5- 


440 




220 


6. 


440 




33o 



>lot 7. 


No 


8. 


880 




55 


9. 


880 




no 


" 10. 


880 




220 


11. 


880 




33o 


12. 


880 



TLe Use of Nittogen. 97 

Bushels 
per acre. 

No fertilizer of any kind 260. 

o lbs. potato fertilizer and \ 

nitrate of soda f" 

potato fertilizer and \ 

nitrate of soda f 

potato fertilizer and ^ „ 

nitrate of soda \ 

potato fertilizer and ( t „ 

nitrate of soda \ 

potato fertilizer w thout any 1 

nitrate of soda ) 

Here it would appear that there are indications that the larger 

amount of potato fertilizer gave the crop nearly all the nitrogen 

needed, since 880 lbs., without additional nitrate, gave as large a 

yield (315 bushels) as did the addition of" no lbs. of nitrate of soda, 

as in plot 9. It is true that plot 10, with 220 lbs. of nitrate, gives 

the heaviest yield, offset by the yield of plot n, which received 330 

lbs., yielding but 308 bushels. 

Bushels 
per acre. 
Plot 13. 1,320 lbs. potato fertilizer, no nitrate of > , 

V . t .... 344 60 

soda \ 

potato fertilizer and | 

nitrate of soda ) 



14. 


1,320 . 




55 


15- 


1,320 




no 


16. 


1,320 




220 


*7- 


1,320 




330 



40333 



potato fertilizer and > 

.... . . , - 375-83 

nitrate on soda ) 

potato fertilizer and ) 

.. . t , [ 396. 

nitrate of soda \ 

potato fertilizer and ) 
nitrate of soda ) 

The above results, as will be seen, are contradictory. It is evi- 
dent that 1,320 lbs. of the potato fertilizer should furnish, of itself, 
all the nitrogen which the crop could use. Nevertheless, an addition 
of 55 lbs. to the acre of nitrate of soda gives the largest yield of 
any. Larger quantities seem to reduce the yield more or less, 
though the addition of 220 lbs. gives the next heaviest yield. 

On a different part of the field, where the land is a trifle lighter 
and apparently more uniform, nitrate of soda in varying quantities 
was used without any potato fertilizer. The following are the 
results: 

p.— 7 



98 The New Potato Culture. 

Bushels 
per acre. 

Plot 18. 55 lbs. of nitrate of soda 403.33 

19- II0 " " 302.50 

" 20. 220 " " " 352. 

21. 330 " " " 315. 

Here it will be seen that the small amount of 55 lbs. to the acre of 
nitrate of soda, without any potato fertilizer, gave as large a yield as 
plot 14, which received the same amount of nitrate of soda and 1,320 
lbs. of the potato fertilizer. 

In the two following experiments a fertilizer high in ammonia, 7.50 
per cent ; high also in potash, 10.50 per cent, but low in phosphoric 
acid, 4.50 per cent., was tried. The results were as follows : 

Bushels 
per acre. 

Plot I. 440 lbs. to the acre 279. 

2. 880 " " " 330. 

SUMMARY. 

We may summarize in this way : 

Average of plots that did not receive either potato fertilizer or 
nitrate of soda alone, 233.75 bushels to the acre. 

With 440 lbs. of potato fertilizer, nitrate of soda, from 55 to 330 
lbs. to the acre, increased the yield over the no-fertilizer plots 39.41 
bushels per acre. 

With 880 lbs. of potato fertilizer, nitrate of soda, from 55 to 330 
lbs. to the acre, increased the yield over the no-fertilizer plots 87.50 
bushels per acre, or but 6.25 bushels over the plot which received the 
same amount of potato fertilizer (880 lbs.) without nitrate of soda. 

With 1,320 lbs. of fertilizer, nitrate of soda from 55 to 330 lbs. to 
the acre, increased the yield over the no-fertilizer plots 148. 50 bushels 
to the acre, or 35.65 bushels over the plot which received the 1,320 
lbs. of fertilizer alone. 

The results of the above experiments would seem, though in a 
feeble way, to justify Mr. Harris's conclusions that the potato fertili- 
zers of to-day are too low in nitrogen. Still we would as urgently as 
ever advise farmers not to depend upon nitrogen for a profitable in- 
crease of crops, but rather to see to it that the land is well supplied 



The Use of Nitrogen. 99 

with minerals, and to experiment with the costly nitrogen, using on 
different portions of the same field, as we have done, all the way from 
55 to 320 lbs. to the acre — an experiment which, conducted on small 
plots, involves neither much trouble nor expense. Remember that 
what you do not recover of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia 
in the crops of the season, you will never recover. But the phos- 
phates and potash that one crop may not usg will remain for the 
next. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Sundry Experiments. 

POTATO CULTURE IN HALF-BARRELS. 

GEMENT barrels were sawed through the centre and the half- 
barrels, or kegs, used. Beauty of Hebron Potatoes, of 
equal weight, were selected for seed and cut in halves, the 
seed -end-half alone being used. They were planted in the 
morning of April 10. 

No. i. Pure Sand. — Seed piece planted six inches deep. This keg 
(half-barrel) gave the strongest, tallest plants, and the leaves were 
the darkest color of any. July 18, the tops being dead, the barrel 
was broken apart, leaving the sand the shape of the barrel so that 
the tubers and roots could be carefully examined. The roots pene- 
trated to every portion of the sand. The box was watered with 
horse-manure water, and small quantities of nitrate of soda, dissolved 
bone and potash were sprinkled upon the surface of the sand and 
scratched in. The tubers of the yield weighed ^ l / 2 ounces. They 
were 35 in number, of the average size of hens' eggs and uniformly 
so. Eight of the best weighed one pound. All were clean, bright 
and smooth. The seed piece was so decayed that little but the skin 
remained. 

A T o. 2. Garden Soil. — Seed piece planted four inches deep. 
Watered as often as needed with rain water. Yield, 40 ounces. There 
were 43 tubers, one larger than in No. 1. Eight of the best weighed 
12 ounces. Tubers not so shapely or smooth. Roots penetrated to 
every part of the soil. Seed piece quite decayed. 

No. J. Three- Quarters Garden Soil, One- Quarter Sand. — The seed 
piece was placed upon the soil and covered with the sand. Watered 

(100) 



Sundry Experiments. 101 

with rain water. The yield was 21 ounces, 38 tubers. The best 
eight weighed 10% ounces. Clean and shapely, as in No. 1. Seed 
piece decayed. 

No. 4. Three- Quarters Garden Soil, One- Quarter Cut Straw. — The 
seed piece was placed upon the soil and the halt-barrel filled with the 
straw. Watered with rain water. The yield was 1 1 ounces. Twenty 
clean, shapely tubers formed almost in a ball about the seed piece, 
which still retained its form plump and solid, and was still pushing 
new buds. Upon cutting it open, the flesh was watery and semi- 
translucent, as if exhausted of starch. This seed piece which, as 
above stated, was the secd-end-half of Beauty of Hebron, was cut in 
two and each piece again planted in the garden,' but the sprouts, if 
indeed any grew, did not appear above the soil. The roots of this 
barrel penetrated to every portion of both the soil and straw. 

THE THREE BARRELS. 

On April iotri, 1889, three barrels of the same size were provided 
with perfect drainage, and filled to within 16 inches of the top with 
garden loam and sand — half and half — thoroughly mixed. While 
mixing the sand and loam together, potato fertilizer was added — one 
quarter of a pound to each barrel. In the first barrel a single tuber 
(medium size) of seedling No. 2 was placed upon the loam and sand, 
being 16 inches below the top of the barrel. In the second barrel a 
single tuber of the same size, of seedling No. 3 was similarly placed. 
A single tuber of the seedling No. 4, of the same size, was placed in 
the third barrel. These potatoes were then covered with about three 
inches of the same sand, loam and fertilizer, the distance from the 
top of the soil being now about 13 inches. As the shoots of the 
growing potatoes appeared above the surface, more soil and sand 
were added, until the barrels were filled to within an inch of the top, 
and the tops were then allowed to grow as they would, being at length 
supported by a platform raised to the height of the barrels. The 
seed was planted April 10, and the shoots of all three appeared 
above the soil May 18, there being scarcely ten hours difference. 

Planted 16 inches deep, where would the tubers form ; near the bot- 
tom, midway, or in tiers from the bottom to the top ? This is what 
the experiment was designed to show. It was also designed to show 



102 The New Potato Culture. 

the root and tuber-forming growth of plants raised under these 
peculiar conditions. The plants were watered as water was needed. 
It was not necessary to apply poison, as the potato beetles seemed to 
prefer a lower plane. In the earlier part of the season the leaves 
showed no flea -beetle perforations, and few were seen upon them. 
Later they injured the leaves as much as those growing in the plots 
near by. This is noted because it has been stated that the cucumber 
flea-beetle confines itself to within a foot or so of the ground. 

It was the design to have sawed the barrels lengthwise, in halves, 
and to have removed the soil and sand just as the vines began to 
show maturity, but while yet the potatoes would cling to the stems. 
Thus the root and tuber-bearing systems could have been well shown 
after the sand and soil had been carefully washed out by the use of 
a hand-pump and hose. The vines "blighted," however, in mid- 
July and were quite dry and dead before the services of a photo- 
grapher could be secured. 

The cut shows fairly well in what part of the barrel the tubers grew, 
apparently from 4 to 12 inches below the surface, yet while washing 
out the sand and soil, several fell from their places. The reader 
must bear in mind that back of those shown in the illustration, other 
potatoes were covered and concealed in the sand and soil. The yield 
was as follows : 

No. 2 yielded 13 marketable potatoes, 8 small and 2 rotten, 
weighing six pounds. The decayed tubers were not weighed or taken 
in the account. Allowing three square feet to the hill, as in field cul- 
ture, the yield would be 1,452 bushels to the acre. 

No. 3 blighted earlier than the others and the yield was 20 very 
small potatoes weighing 14 ounces. 

No. 4 yielded 13 marketable and 3 small tubers. Not less than 
ten were rotten and not estimated. They weighed 4^ pounds. 

SEED PIECES VARIOUSLY TREATED. 

Test No. 26. Queen of the Valley was cut to two-eye pieces and 
placed in a spade-wide furrow, or trench, four inches deep in mellow 
garden soil. They were then covered lightly with soil and the furrow 
nearly covered with straw. On this, chemical potato fertilizer was 
thrown at the rate of 500 pounds to the acre, and the furrow was then 



104 The New Potato Culture. 

leveled with soil. The yield was 907.50 bushels to the acre. Best 
five weighed six and one-quarter pounds. Large and small, 135,520 
to the acre, or 9J tubers to the hill. 

Test No. 27. Same variety, planted in the same way as in No. 26. 
The pieces were covered lightly with soil, then with a liberal spread 
of hen manure, which was covered lightly with soil ; then a second 
spread of hen manure, and finally the furrow was filled with soil. 
The yield was at the rate of 705.83 bushels to the acre. Best five, 
four pounds one ounce. Large and small, 116,160 to the acre. 

Test No. 28. Planted as above, and a heavy spread of salt — 40 
bushels to the acre — strewn over the pieces, which were first lightly 
covered with soil. The seed pieces rotted in the ground. 

Test No. 30. These were manured with chemical fertilizers at the 
rate of 1,000 pounds to the acre without straw mulch. The yield was 
665.50 bushels to the acre. Best five, five pounds. Large and small, 
101,640 to the acre, or seven potatoes to the hill. 

Test No. 31. These pieces (Peerless, as in Nos. 29 and 30) were 
covered lightly with soil, and the trench filled with stable manure 
(the same as No. 26 was filled with cut straw). No fertilizer was used. 
The yield was 907.25 bushels to the acre. Best five weighed three 
pounds eight and one-half ounces. Large and small, 217,800 to 
the acre, or an average of 15 to the hill. This yield was about 
the same as in No. 26, but the potatoes were smaller and much in- 
jured by wire- worms. 

Test No. 32. These pieces (Peerless) were first covered with soil 
lightly, then salt at the rate o.f 15 bushels to the acre, then a mulch 
of stable manure as in No. 31 ; then a spread of hen manure, at the 
rate of 20 bushels to the acre, and finally unleached ashes at the rate 
of 15 bushels to the acre. The object of this trial was to ascertain, 
first, whether a surfeit of manure would increase the yield, and sec- 
ond, whether the salt would have any effect to keep wire-worms away, 
as compared with No. 31, which received only stable manure. The 
yield was 826.83 bushels to the acre. Best five, five pounds. Large 
and small, 179,080 to the acre, or \z\ to the hill. They were eaten 
as badly as in test No. 31. 



Z 



Sundry Experiments. 105 

A NEW WAV TO MULCH POTATOES VALLEY MULCHING. 

Mulching potatoes is sometimes very successful, and at other times 
useless, or harmful. The effect depends upon the soil or season. 
When the early spring is backward and wet, the mulch keeps the soil 
cold ; the seed pieces are delayed in sprouting and an imperfect stand 
is the result. What is wanted is a mulch that will conserve moisture 
and yet not intercept the warming rays of the sun. The "valley" 
system it was thought might accomplish this. Whether it is practi- 
cable or profitable, we are not prepared to say. 

The soil (an impoverished, sandy loam) was plowed, raked and 

leveled the same as if grass 
— j ^ seed were to be sown, as 
shown by line a, Figure 2. 
The seed pieces (two eyes) 
-1 £ were then placed on the 
soil one foot apart in rows 
three feet apart, as shown 
at b. These pieces were 
then lightly covered with 
soil hoed from between the 
rows (1, 2, 3,) and at the 
rate of 1,000 pounds per acre of Baker's potato fertilizer strewn evenly 
over it. Then more soil was hoed over the fertilizer until continuous 
hills five inches high were formed, as shown at r, forming the valleys, 
as shown at 4, 5, 6. The valleys were then filled with a mulch of 
coarse straw and hay that had been raked up into cocks from a part 
of the field where it had lain all winter, thus partly filling the valleys, as 
shown by the dotted line. The design was that such plots were not 
to be cultivated during the whole season. If the mulching material 
is old, few seeds will sprout in the mulch, while those that sprout be- 
neath it will be smothered. The weeds that grow on top of the hills 
may be pulled up. But the vines very soon cover the hills, forming 
a shade not favorable to their growth. The yield of potatoes was 45 
pounds, which was at the rate of 352 bushels to the acre, 60 per cent, 
of which were marketable as to size. 

If it were desirable to try this system on a large scale, a small plow 
run both ways, or a shovel plow, would serve to turn furrows over the 
pieces, leaving the valleys to be mulched. In the 




<? A/-.)T 



io6 The New Potato Culture. 



SECOND EXPERIMENT, 



which is by no means new, the pieces were placed on the top of 
the leveled soil as before, and the same kind of mulch spread over 
them five inches high directly over the pieces and sloping gradu- 
ally towards the other rows. Upon this mulch the same quantity of 
the same fertilizer was sown. The yield was at the rate of 330 bush- 
els to the acre. In this trial there were 316 tubers (45 pounds), of 
which 162 were of marketable size. Many, however, were injured by 
grubs of the May beetle and wire-worm. The next test was the 
trench-mulch system, using the same quantity of the same fertilizer. 
The yield was 316 potatoes (31 f pounds) of which 156 were marketa- 
ble. This was at the rate of 276.83 bushels to the acre. 

Another trench without mulch, and fertilized with the same manure, 
at the rate of 1,200 pounds to the acre, yielded at the rate of 278.66 
bushels, there being 314 tubers (38 pounds), 146 marketable. 

The fertility of the soil is shown approximately by the yield of two 
trenches that were not fertilized. The first yielded 162 potatoes 
(12^ pounds) of which 54 were of marketable size, though very scabby. 
This is at the rate of but 91.66 bushels to the acre. The second un- 
fertilized trench yielded 156 tubers (15J pounds) of which 60 were mar- 
ketable as to size, but much injured by scab. This is at the rate of 
113.66 bushels to the acre. 

The average yield of the unmanured trenches was 102.66 bushels 
to the acre. The trench (not mulched) which received 1,200 pounds 
of fertilizer yielded at the rate of 278.66, an increase over the unfer- 
tilized trenches of 176 bushels. The trench which was mulched 
(trench-mulch plan) and given 1,000 pounds of fertilizer gave an in- 
crease over unmanured plots of 174.18 bushels ; the surface mulch- 
ing an increase of 228.66 bushels, and the "valley" mulching an in- 
crease of 250.66 bushels to the acre. 

The philosophy of the method seems sensible enough. About a 
foot of soil in width directly over the pieces is without any mulch, and 
the mellow, loose soil receives the air, the sun's rays and the rain, 
while the mulch in the valleys should assist in retaining the moisture 
so received for the benefit of the roots until the growth of the tops 
covers all. 



Sundry Experiments. 107 

DOUBTS EXPRESSED AS TO REPORTED YIELDS. 

When in 1882, I reported that several of the potatoes tested yielded 
at the rate of over 700 bushels per acre, several friends, as previously 
intimated, wrote that they doubted the fact. One said that he had 
raised potatoes all his life, and that he considered himself a good 
farmer, yet he had never harvested 400 bushels from an acre. Were 
we to judge alone from my farm experience in the sandy soil of my 
Long Island (N. Y.) farm, I should be ready to share the doubts of 
this correspondent. There we have never raised a large crop of pota- 
toes, though we have tried over 100 different kinds, and raised them 
under different methods of cultivation, and with different manures. 
Later, as previous mention has been made, we were both surprised 
and pleased at the quantity of potatoes, which, it was found, could 
be raised upon our New Jersey experiment plots. Many trials have 
proved utter or partial failures, as was to have been expected ; still 
in many cases we have harvested at the rate of over 700 bushels to 
the acre ; in quite a number over 800 bushels ; in six or eight cases 
over 900 ; in three over 1,000; in one case over 1,100 bushels, and 
finally, in another over 1,800. 

METHOD OF COMPUTING YIELDS. 

The method of computing yields is a simple and, as will be seen, 
an entirely accurate one. The only way in which it differs from field 
yields, is that every hill is counted. There is no allowance made for 
vacant hills, which always occur upon large areas. That is to say, if 
we plant 20 pieces and but 10 grow, we estimate the yield by 10 
hills — not by 20. As a rule, however, every piece planted grows, so 
that generally there are no changes to be made. Upon 10 acres of 
the same land, manured, planted and cultivated in the same way and to 
the same variety of potato, we should of course look for essentially 
the same yield. 

The method of computing the yield is as follows : The pieces are 
always placed by measure just one foot apart in drills three feet 
apart. A cord with knots in which short strings are tied one foot 
apart, is stretched over each drill its entire length. The seed pieces 
are placed under these marks. With pieces placed one foot apart in 
drills three feet apart, we should have 14,520 pieces to the acre. 



108 The New Potato Culture. 

Now if we plant 20 pieces, and the yield is 50 pounds, the rule of 
three will give the j-ield per acre in pounds. This must be divided 
by 60, the legal number of pounds for a bushel of potatoes, and the 
answer gives the yield per acre, viz., 605 bushels. The yield is 
weighed upon nicely balanced scales placed near the plots, and each 
kind is weighed as soon as harvested, and the weight, even to the 
quarter ot an ounce, and the number of potatoes, large and small, 
are recorded at once. In ordinary experiments of this kind, aliquot 
parts of an acre are desirable for easy computation. 

THE BEST DISTANCE APART FOR SINGLE EYES. 

The following experiments were made in 188 1 to ascertain what 
distance apart potato " seeds," cut to single eyes, should be planted 
in order to produce the best yield of marketable potatoes. Each test 
row was but 33 feet in length ; the variety planted was Beauty of 
Hebron. An old sod was plowed under in the winter of 1S80. The 
land was well prepared the following spring. The seed pieces were 
placed in shallow furrows, three feet apart, May 18, and upon them a 
slight sprinkling of concentrated potato fertilizer was strewn. The 
soil was then hoed back so that the entire plot was quite level. The 
same fertilizer at the rate of 300 pounds per acre was afterwards 
spread broadcast, just previous to the first cultivation. 

That the yield was light in every case was no doubt due to the fact 
that the season was unfavorable to the potato crop, being very dry in 
the early, and too wet in the later part. 

ONE EYE IN A PLACE ALL THE DRILLS 33 FEET IN LENGTH. 

18 pieces, weighing 12 ounces. Yield 24 pounds. 

(18 pieces in a drill 33 feet long would r e 22 inches apart.) 
20 pieces, weighing 14 ounces. Yield 14^ pounds. 

(This row was harmed by moles.) 

25 pieces, weighing 14 ounces. Yield 25^ pounds. 

28 " 
30 " 

33 " 

40 " 

49 " 
66 



WA 


" 26X 


18 


■ "21 


22 


" 24 


23 


1 "20 


26 


" 28X 


32 


" 31X 



Sundry Expoiments. 109 

TWO PIECES, EACH HAVING BUT ONE EYE, PUT CLOSE TOGETHER IN 
DRILLS H FEET IN LENGTH. 

40 pieces, weighing 22 ounces. Yield 24^4 pounds. 

(Nearly 10 inches apart.) 

50 pieces, weighing 24 ounces. Yield 27 

60 pieces, weighing 28 ounces. Yield 24^ " 

66 pieces, weighing 34 ounces. Yield 25X 

THREE PIECES (SINGLE EYES) PUT CLOSE TOGETHER IN DRILLS 33 
FEET IN LENGTH. 

48 pieces, weighing 22 ounces. Yield 18 pounds. 

(Injured by moles.) 
75 pieces, weighing 40 ounces. Yield 24 
90 pieces, weighing 42 ounces. Yield 24 " 
The average size of the last was much smaller than any of the 
others. 

FOUR PIECES PUT CLOSE TOGETHER IN DRILLS ^ FEET LONG. 

64 pieces, weighing 33 ounces. Yield 24 pounds. 

FIVE PIECES CLOSE TOGETHER DRILL 33 FEET. 

80 pieces, weighing 36 ounces. Yield 27 ounces. 

On comparing the various products (but omitting such as were 
injured by moles), it appears that in the two poorest rows the average 
number of pieces was 35, and the average product 20^2 pounds, 
making the yield per acre equivalent to 150 bushels. It will also be 
seen that in the best row the number of pieces was 66, with a yield 
°f 3 J X pounds, making the rate per acre 225 bushels. Taking the 
average rate per acre for all the rows together, we find it equal to 184 
bushels, with 50 pieces in each row, and for the five best rows 209 
bushels per acre, with an average of 64 pieces per row. 

Now to show in what way, and to what extent the spaces in plant- 
ing affect the yield, we have the following figures : 

Bushels 
per acre. 

35 pieces per row represent a yield of about 159 

50 " " " " 184 

64 " " " " " 209 

66 " " " " " 225 



no The New Potato Cidture. 

IN OTHER WORDS, 

The distance apart for 150 bushels per acre was nearly 12 inches. 

" 184 " " " 8 

" " 209 " " " 7 " 

" " 225 " " was just 6 " 

In another view also, this result is further confirmed, for if we take 
the closest planting above given (which is six inches in the row), it 
shows an area of 216 square inches for each single eye, which is 
space enough for a much larger yield than either of the above. 

TESTS WITH DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF EYES TO A PIECE. 

No. 83V. Variety planted, the Improved Peachblow. Single 
strong eyes, one by three feet apart. Yield, 171.45 bushels per acre. 
Large and small, 33,880 — a very large average size. No small pota- 
toes. Best five, 2 pounds 11 }4 ounces. 

No. 84V. Two strong eyes in one piece. Yield, 252 bushels per 
acre. Large and small, 50,820 to the acre. Best five, 2 pounds %% 
ounces. 

No. 85V. Three strong eyes to apiece. Yield, 292.50 bushels per 
acre. Large and small, 50,810 to the acre. Best five weighed 2 
pounds 13^ ounces. 

No. 86v. Four strong eyes to a piece. Yield, 322.66 bushels per 
acre. Large and small, 62,920. Best five weighed 3 pounds 3^ 
ounces. 

Single strong eyes of White Star gave a yield at the rate of 171.45 
bushels ; two strong eyes, 252 bushels ; three strong eyes, 282.50 ; 
four strong eyes, 322.86. 

DIFFERENT SIZED PIECES WITHOUT REGARD TO NUMBER 
OF EYES. 

Trench No. 1. Rather small potatoes were cut into four pieces. 
Yield per acre, 230.41 bushels. There were 193 marketable potatoes 
and 56 small. The vines were rated June 27, as six, 10 being best. 

Trench No. 2. Half potatoes were used in this trench. The yield 
per acre was at the rate of 256.66 bushels. There were 165 market- 
able — 282 very small, none very large. The vines were rated June 
27, as six. 



Sundry Experiments. in 

Trench No. 3. Whole Potatoes. — The yield per acre was at the 
rate of 278.66 bushels, of which 236 were marketable and 310 small. 

It will be seen that whole seed gave 48 bushels per acre more than 
quarter pieces and 22 bushels more than half pieces. But the num- 
ber of unmarketable potatoes increased with the size of the seed — 
the whole pieces giving the greatest number, the half pieces next and 
the quarter pieces fewest. 

POTATO SKINS CUT TO SINGLE EYES. 

May 26th were planted in well prepared ground, 37 pieces of po- 
tato skins — each having a single strong eye — six inches apart in the 
drill. The 37 pieces weighed two ounces. Three' grew, and the yield 
was half a dozen potatoes as large as marbles. The experiment was 
made to test the value of a positive assertion on the part of a " well 
known " farm writer that such eyes would yield as well as those to 
which flesh is attached. 

EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FLESH EACH EYE 

SHOULD HAVE WHEN PLANTED TO PRODUCE THE MOST 

PROFITABLE CROP. 

Test 46 A. The seed potatoes were selected all of the same size, 
and peeled, all eyes being cut off except the strongest near the mid- 
dle — that is, whole potatoes were peeled so that but one eye was left 
with a ring of skin about it. It would be equivalent to cutting out 
all the eyes but one, and then planting the whole potato as if it were 
a seed piece with a single strong eye. The variety was the Peerless ; 
the amount of chemical potato fertilizer used was 1,000 pounds to 
the acre. They were planted one piece (four inches deep) every foot 
in trenches (spade wide) three feet apart ; cultiva- 
tion flat. The yield was at the rate of 806.66 bush- 
els to the acre. The best five weighed 3 pounds 3 
ounces. There were of large and small potatoes 
at the rate of 140,560 to the acre, or 9% to a hill. 

Test 47 A. The pieces were cut as shown by 
figure 3, and of that size. They were planted, 
as in 46 A, three inches deep. So many of the 
pieces either failed to sprout, or died after the 
sprouting, that no estimate could be made of the 
yield per acre. 




112 



The New Potato Culture. 




'*-. 



Test 48 A. In this test cylindrical pieces were cut through the po- 
tato as shown at Fig. 4, with a strong eye upon one end, and planted 
four inches deep. The yield was at the rate of 
211.75 bushels to the acre. Of large and small 
there were at the rate of 87,120 potatoes to the 
acre, or six to a hill. 

In order to ascertain how much flesh should be 
left to an eye or to the eyes of seed pieces, it 
would doubtless be necessary to repeat the tests 
hundreds of times in different soils, and with dif " 
erent varieties. ' ' Enoug h is as good as a feast, ' 
but what would be enough in a wet spring might 
prove too little in a dry one ; what might serve 
in a rich soil might prove insufficient in a poor 
soil. The quantity of flesh which should go with 
each piece, is, theoretically, that which without 
unnecessary waste, will best support the eyes 
until, by the growth of the roots, support from 
the flesh is no longer required. 

SEED END VS. STEM END IN A RICH SOIL. 

* The seed end of Early Rose yielded 710.82 
bushels to the acre. Largest five weighed 2 
pounds gh ounces. Large and small, 214,170 
to the acre, or 14! to the hill. The shoots ap- 
peared before those of the stem-end seed, and the tops were nearly 
twice as large. 

The stem end of Early Rose yielded at the rate of 620.10 bushels 
totheacre. Best five, 3 pounds 8J ounces. Large and small, 170,610, 
or 11 J to the hill. 

The seed end of the Rural Blush yielded 282.33 bushels to the 
acre. Best five weighed 1 pound 6 ounces. Large and small, 116,- 
120 to the acre, or 8 to a hill. The shoots appeared before those of 
the stem end. The stem end yielded 937.71 bushels to the acre. 
Best five, 2 pounds 5 J ounces. Large and small, 232,320 to the acre 
or 16 to a hill. 

The seed end of the Queen of the Valley yielded 363 bushels to the 
acre. Best five weighed 2 pounds 15J ounces. Large and small, 




Sundry Experiments. 113 

67,760 to the acre, or over 4} to a hill. The shoots appeared before 
those of the stem end. The stem end of Queen of the Valley yielded 
393.21 bushels to the acre. Best five, 4 pounds \\ ounce. Large 
and small, 72,600 to the acre. 

Judging from these tests alone, we should select the stem end of the 
Blush and Queen of the Valley, and seed end for the Early Rose, ex- 
cept that in the latter case the potatoes averaged smaller. The seed 
potatoes were cut in halves, one for the seed, the other for the stem 
end. 

It would appear that with some varieties it is better to plant stem 
ends, and such tests should be made with every variety. 

SHALL THE DISTANCE APART OF THE SEED PIECES PLANTED BE 
PROPORTIONATE TO THE SIZE OF THE SEED? 

Mr. T. B. Terry, in commenting upon the experiments made by 
several stations, as well as by myself, which seemed to show that 
small (one or two-eye) pieces were not profitable, expressed the opin- 
ion that experimenters should plant small seed closer together, in 
order to make the condition:; equal. We were, therefore, induced to 
resume our trials during the past season (1890), in the hope of throw- 
ing more light upon this really important problem. As a single ex- 
periment it is not worth much except as continued trials, season after 
season, in different land and with different varieties, may confirm the 
outcome, and give data for generalizations. All the potatoes used for 
seed were of medium size. It may be said that the tubers from the 
whole seed were smaller than those from any of the smaller seed. 
The record showing the comparative size was unfortunately lost. 

This trial was made in an impoverished soil of a clay loam, fertil- 
ized with 1,000 lbs. to the acre of the Mapes potato fertilizer, of which 
an analysis has been given on previous pages. The pieces were placed 
in trenches four inches deep, and three feet apart measuring from the 
middle of each, on a plot of one-fortieth of an acre — ^ feet square. 
It will be seen that we have on this plot 1,089 square feet, which 
divided by three gives 363 seed pieces, if planted one foot apart in the 
trenches. 

No. 1. 132 pieces, single eyes, yielded at the rate of 187 bushels 
per acre. The pieces were placed three inches apart, 
p.— 8 



ii4 The New Potato Culture. 

No. 2. 66 pieces, single eyes, yielded at the rate of 209 bushels to 
the acre. The pieces were placed six inches apart. 

No. 3. 66 two-eye pieces, yielded at the rate of 227.33 bushels to 
the acre. The pieces were placed six inches apart. 

No. 4. ^ half potatoes, yielded at the rate of 227.33 bushels to 
the acre, the same as plot No. 3. The half potatoes were placed one 
foot apart. 

No. 5. 33 whole potatoes, yielded at the rate of 282.33 bushels to 
the acre. The tubers were placed one foot apart. 

It appears, therefore, that whole potatoes of medium size, placed 
one foot apart, in trenches three feet apart, yielded over 95 bushels 
per acre more than single eye pieces placed three inches apart ; 73 
bushels more than single eye pieces placed six inches apart, and 55 
bushels an acre more than either two-eye pieces or half potatoes. 



CHAPTER XIII 



Si\e of Seed. Generalisations. Habit of the variety to be 
considered. Small seed of some kinds — Large of others. 
tA^o positive rule can be given. Illustrations. The loss 
from missing hills. Underground development. Rela- 
tions between few eyes and long joints. Husby and 
" l e §g}' " vines. True roots and tuber-bearing stems. 

THE SIZE OE SEED. 

rIG. 5 shows how potatoes usually sprout in a dark cellar 
when not in contact with other potatoes or with any damp 
substances. It will be seen that the buds ("eyes") of the 
" seed-end " have alone sprouted. We have found that in 
many varieties these are the only buds which do push, either in the 
cellar or when planted. The ' ' eyes " of the other parts seem ' ' blind " 
or impotent. The pieces rot in the ground. With other varieties 
every " eye" will sprout, though those of the " seed-end " are almost 
always the strongest and the first to sprout. 

Hence it would appear that the size of the " seed " to be planted 
should be determined by the habit, so to speak, of the variety and 
not by any fixed rule to use one, two, three eyes, half or whole seed. 
Hence it is, too, that reports of experiments to settle this vexed ques- 
tion are so contradictory. We will guarantee that an experiment of 
this kind with my No. 2 Seedling would show that one-quarter of each 
tuber, including the "seed-end" would give a greater yield than 
three-quarters of the tuber without the "seed-end.'' And we are 
further confident that if the seed of this variety were cut in halves, 
one-half being "seed-end" the other " stem-end,'' the stem halves 

("5) 



n6 



The New Potato Culture. 



would fail to sprout in about six cases out of seven, 
were using Wall's Orange or 
any other similar variety hav- 
ing many and prominent eyes, 
we should reject the seed-end 
and cut the rest to two or 
three eyes, depending upon the 
size of the seed tubers. 

The loss of the yield from 
" missing "hills is not well con- 
sidered. In many a thrifty 
field of potatoes it is not un- 
common to find 20 per cent, of 
missing hills. One- fifth of the 
crop is thus sacrificed ; or if 
the actual yield be 200 bushels 
to the acre, the loss would be 
50 bushels. 

ABSURD NAMES. 

Why call the ends of the 
potato "seed" and "stem" 
ends? These parts might bet- 
ter be called the top and bot- 
tom, since they are the top and 
bottom of a potato, the same 
as there is a top and bottom or 
an apex and base to a leaf, to a 
twig or a branch. We might 
even better say "butt" and 
"tip," as of the ear of corn. 
The seed-end of a potato is 
just as much the top of a po- 
tato as the topmost bud on a 
branch is the tip or top, and 
the stem end is the bottom or 
base, simply because it is the 
lowest portion. As in any Fig. 5 



Again, if we 




Potato Seed and J tries . 



117 



rooted cutting and as in most established plants, the top buds swell 
and grow first ; so the "eyes "of the " seed " or the top of the potato 
push first. 

POTATO GROWTH. 

In my poor way I have studied during late years the underground 

development of the potato dur- 
ing its several stages from the 
sprouting of the seed piece to 
the development of the tubers, 
and would ask my readers' 
patience while I endeavor to 
explain it as best I may. 

It seems that the distance 
between the joints of a potato 
vine (nodes) as well as the dis- 
tance between the eyes, or 
nodes, or joints, of the under- 
ground shoot is proportionate 
to the number 0/ eyes on a potato 
— their nearness together. 
/That is to say, few-eyed pota- 
toes will give a vine with fewer 
joints (longer internodes) than 
many-eyed potatoes. Suppos- 
ing this to be true, one would 
infer that the fewer-eyed tuber 
would give the greatest length 
of vine and the least compact 
or bushy habit. A many-eyed 
potato would give closer-joint- 
ed stems and a greater propor- 
tionate amount of foliage. To 
a certain extent, therefore, the 
number of eyes of a given vari- 
ety is a guide both to the dis- 
tance apart to plant and the 
p IG 6 depth to plant. 




n8 



The New Potato Culture. 



The first true roots issue not from the seed potato in any case, but 
from around the eye or bud ; from the growing shoot, which is the de- 
velopment of the eye or bud. These underground shoots make an 
effort to produce leaves at their nodes or joints 
which, being underground, die. From their axils 
the true fibrous roots grow which support the plant. 
From every node or joint, also, issue stems which 
at their ends thicken or may thicken into tubers. 
Above-ground leaves develop at the nodes or 
joints, and between them and 
the main stem (that is in the 
axil ) secondary stems o r 
branches grow. Under- 
ground, the /ea/is suppressed 
and ws have a leafless stem 
or slender shoot (provided 
with eyes or buds all the 
same) which at the tip or 
fust behind it enlarges to 
orm the tuber. The tip it- 
self is a suppressed leaf, and 
the suppression seems to in- 
duce the swelling of the stem. 
Fig. 6 (p. 117) shows a 
seed potato which I lifted 
from a six-inch trench just be- 
fore the sprouts had reached 
the surface soil. It will be 
seen that fibrous roots have 
grown from all the lower 
Fig. 7. nodes of the shoots, and that 

the tuber-bearing nodes have not yet developed. Fig. 7 shows a 
potato taken from a barrel of potatoes in the cellar. The potatoes 
were moist and decaying, which gave the conditions essential for the 
growth of fibrous roots the same as if it were growing in the soil. 
Now if this condition of moisture and decay had not existed, the shoots 
would be like those of Figure 5, and they would continue to grow 
until the seed or parent tuber became exhausted of its nutriment. In 




Potato Seed and Vines. 



119 



a lighter place leaves would grow from the nodes, but neither fibrous 

roots nor tuber-bearing stems 
would appear. 

What we want is to provide 
those conditions economically 
that shall induce the greatest 
number of nodes to send out 
fibrous roots and tuber-bearing 
stems. In the usual system of 
raising potatoes, they are plant - 




Fig. 8. 
In the Hill. (Ideal.) 

ed in V-shaped furrows scarcely three 
inches deep and covered ; they are cul- 
tivated both ways and usually hilled up. 
We have tried to show that the sprout 
which is the growth of the "eye" 
changes into green leaves and vines 
above the ground in the air and sun- 
light, and that below it remains of a 
whitish color and sends forth roots and 
tuber-bearing stems. In the old method 
all the tubers must form in a compara- 
tively narrow, cramped space. Be- 
tween the seed-piece and the air there 
is but a length of perhaps three inches 
of stem — the portion which is to fur- 
nish the fibrous roots for the plant's 
support. There is, withal, only a single 
node or so, or several crowded together, 
and it is from these that the tuber- 
bearing stems issue. The plant may 
give a great amount of foliage, but it 




Fig. 9. 
The Trench. (Ideal. 



120 The New Potato Culture. 

cannot give a maximum amount of tubers, because the space for them 
to grow is too limited. In the trench the conditions are different. 
The seed-pieces are four, five, or even six, inches below the surface 
and three or four nodes, well separated, send out their fibrous roots 
and tuber-bearing stems. The root system is thrice as great. It is 
as if there were three or four tiers, or planes, for the growth of pota- 
toes, a virtual extension of the area planted, the same as a ten-story 
house may occupy the same area of ground as a one-story house. 
Food is supplied in abundance. The roots grow deep and help to 
carry the plants through droughts. This they cannot so well do in 
shallower planting, being nearer the surface and more at the mercy 
of heat and droughts. 

Fig. 10 (p. 121) shows a Thorburn (early) potato carefully lifted 
June 12 ; it was planted May 2. It will be seen that several tubers 
are beginning to form, while others are an inch or more in diameter. 
Some of the roots were thus early eighteen inches in length. In the 
old way these roots would have extended for the most part laterally 
on either side of the furrow or hill, having no mellow trench soil to 
go down into and spread out in all directions. In the trench the roots 
grow from the bottom as well as near the top. They prefer to go 
down, that being the easiest course ; while there too they find the 
most food and moisture. 

AGAIN, AS TO THE SIZE OF SEED-PIECES. 

I beg to remark here that my experiments during the past fifteen 
years ought to throw some light upon the important question of the 
size of seed. As a result, my belief is that no one can say or will 
ever be able to say, whether it is better to use whole potatoes or any 
given number of eyes, or sizes of pieces, as a guide for all potatoes 
and different soils. The number of sprouts desirable to have in a hill 
depends to a great extent upon the distance apart of the hills, and 
upon the vigor of the vines. 

Last year I dug up seed-pieces of different varieties planted ten 
days previously. Any one who will do this at such a time, will find 
that the size of the seed must be determined by the number and vigor 
of the eyes. For example, the R. N.-Y. No. 2 has not only few eyes, 
but those of the seed-end alone were pushing, notwithstanding the 
seed potatoes had been exposed to the light and heat for a week or 




^ ■ s<A • - 


I 


'W 


j 


/ 




V 





Fig. io. 



122 



The New Potato Culture. 



more before planting. Half pieces of this variety were planted My 
No. 3 has also few eyes, yet from every eye planted a sprout was 
growing. Does it not follow that smaller pieces of the No. 3 than of 
the No. 2 should be planted ? The Everitt potato has many eyes, 
and a peculiarity is that all seem equally sensitive or ready to grow. 

Let us take 50 different varieties of potatoes — all of the same size 
— and cut them to two eyes. We shall find that some of the varieties 
will give a perfect stand, and yield a large crop of marketable pota- 
toes, while others will give a very imper- 
fect stand and a poor yield. The same 
will be the case if whole seed is planted. 
Some varieties will send up a dozen 
shoots, others only a few. The yield of 
the one may be a large crop of small 
potatoes ; of the other, a large crop of 
large potatoes. The farmer can judge 
what sized seed to plant, when he sees 
and knows his potato, how the seed has 
been kept, and how it will act in his soil, 
and not until then — and there is no ex- 
periment station that can tell him.* 

My experience has led me to answer 
all inquiries : " Use large sized pieces con- 
taining two or iJiree strong eyes," and that 
is the nearest I can come to any fixed 
rule. 

The advice to use "whole seed "is very 
bad indeed. I feel assured if followed 
out with certain varieties, a yield of 
small tubers will result every time, while with other varieties the ad- 
vice may be as sound as a silver dollar. 

The results at certain experiment stations, as well as my own, which 
show that the best yields come from whole seeds, prove simply that 
seed of some varieties, preserved in a certain way, and planted in a 
certain soil and situation, will give the largest crops for the particular 
varieties tried, and they prove nothing more. 

* Varieties of potatoes which grow so closely together that they may be thrown out with 
one turn of the fork have, and necessarily so, short tuber-bearing stems. In varieties like 
The Rural Blush, that " straggle," the stem is long. This is shown at Fig. n. The stem 
if straightened out would be a foot in length. 




Fig. 11. 



CHAPTER XIV 



Analysis of the tubers and vines. The effects of special or 
single fertilisers and in various combinations. The 
effects of " Complete" fertilisers. Stimulants. Complete 
fertilisers not necessarily effective. A familiar talk with 
farmers. 

The result of 70 analyses of the tuber, by various chemists, em- 
bracing a great many varieties and modes of culture, are summed up 
in the following table : 

Minimum. 

Water 68. 29 

Nitrogenous substance . 0.50 

Crude fat o. 05 

Non-nitrogenous extractive 
substances, starch, sugar 

Fiber 0.27 

Ash 0.42 



6 I'' 

it, etc. ) 



12.05 



following : 

Minimum. 

Potash 43-97 

Soda o. 00 

Lime 0.51 

Magnesia 1.32 

Ferric oxide. 0.04 

Phosphoric acid 8. 39 

Sulphuric acid o. 44 

Silica 0.00 

Chlorine 0.85 

( I2 3) 



Maximum. 


Average. 


82.88 


75-77 


3.60 


1.70 


O.80 


0.18 


26.57 


20.56 


1.40 


0.75 


1.46 


0.97 


ie tuber, 


we have 


Maximum. 


Average. 


73-61 


60.37 


16.93 


2.62 


6.23 


2.57 


I3.58 


4.69 


7.18 


1. 18 


27.14 


17-35 


14.89 


6.49 


8.LL 


2.17 


I0.75 


3-n 



124 The New Potato Culture. 

Six analyses of the tops give the following average results : Potash, 
21.78 ; soda, 2.31 ; lime, 32.65 ; magnesia, 16.51 ; ferric oxide, 2.86; 
phosphoric acid, 7.89 ; sulphuric acid, 6.32 ; silica, 4.32 ; chlorine, 
5.78. Potash and phosphoric acid are therefore predominating in- 
gredients of the ash of the tuber, and soda and silica are evidently 
quite unessential, since they may be entirely absent ; soda may also 
be wanting in the tops. 

From these figures it may be estimated ihat in a crop of 150 
bushels, weighing 9,000 pounds, and 600 pounds of tops, we should re- 
move, of the three most valuable ingredients of plant-food, the 
quantities per acre given in the following table, omitting fractions. 
For the purpose of comparison, we give also the quantities of these 
three substances gathered by a crop of wheat, 25 bushels, and straw, 
2, 500 pounds; and of Indian corn, 50 bushels, stover 4,500 pounds, 
and cobs, 60 pounds. 

Nitrogen. Phos. Acid. Potash. 

Potatoes : Tubers 26 15 53 

Tops 4 11 

Total 26 19 64 

Wheat: Grain 30 ■ 13 8 

Straw 12 6 17 

Total 42 19 25 

Indian corn : Grain 48 20 12 

Stover 22 23 41 

Cobs 2 4 

Total 72 43 57 

From these figures it appears that to produce the potato crop, 
potash is required in larger proportion than either nitrogen or phos- 
phoric acid, and that more is required for this crop than for either 
wheat or corn, notwithstanding that the latter is such a gross feeder. 
When we come to consider the comparative exhaustion of the soil by 
the two crops, remembering that of the corn crop, only the grain with 
12 pounds of potash is liable to leave the farm, while of the potato 
crop the tubers, with 53 pounds of potash for every acre, are usually 
exported, the usefulness of potash manures in potato culture would 
appear to be very plainly indicated. To the quantity of nitrogen 



Analyses and Fertilizers. 125 

gathered by the potato crop, as given in the table, something must be 
added for the tops, with reference to which we find no determinations 
of this element. Making due allowance for this, the best manure for 
the potato would seem to be a " complete " one ; that is, one contain- 
ing all three of these substances — nitrogen, phosphoric acid and 
potash, with a large proportion of the last. 

I have for years endeavored to call attention to the fact that many of 
the experiments made by farmers, and even by the officers of agricul- 
tural experiment stations, for the purpose of finding out what ferti- 
lizer constituents their land most needs, are delusive. If a given piece 
of land needs potash and nothing else, then that piece of land, year 
after year, will not yield maximum crops without potash. If it hap- 
pens to need phosphates only, then full crops cannot be raised with- 
out some fertilizer which furnishes available phosphoric acid, as bone, 
fish, etc. If it stands in need of nitrogen only, nitrogen must be used. 
Here we have a plain case. The one ingredient needed is supplied in 
either trial and the land responds by giving the fullest crops of which 
it is capable. Each of the three farmers may truly say, "my land 
needs potash " — " mine phosphate " — " mine nitrogen." But suppose 
in the first example phosphate is needed as well as potash ; in the 
second potash is needed as well as phosphate ; in the third either is 
needed as well as. nitrogen, what will probably be the result of the ex- 
periments ? That the first piece of land will not give an increase of 
crop from the use of potash ; the second will make little or no re- 
sponse to the phosphate, and the third none from the nitrogen. The 
experimenters jump at the conclusion that their land does not s^and 
in need of the special fertilizers applied. A fourth example may be 
given : The land needs all three of the fertilizers. The farmer spreads 
on one plot or field burnt bone (phosphoric acid only), on the other sul- 
phate of potash, on a third nitrate of soda and potash, on a fourth 
potash and burnt bone. It is possible that not one of these fields or 
plots will yield a full crop, and the experimenter arrives at the erro- 
neous conclusion that chemical fertilizers are worthless upon his land. 
His land needs all three and is not satisfied with any one or two. If 
we would ascertain whether a given piece of land needs a special or 
complete food, a complete fertilizer should be used on one plot, and 
upon another, a fertilizer from which one or another of its constitu- 
ents is omitted. And it may be necessary to repeat this several 



126 The New Potato Culture. 

years. A comparison then between the several crops would be likely 
to answer the question whether the omitted constituent was the one 
most needed or not at all needed. But there is still another cause 
which might mislead farmers as to the effects of chemical fertilizers, 
or other chemicals used as such. We allude to the action of certain 
substances which are either not plant-foods or incomplete foods. 
Such, for example, are salt, plaster, lime, sulphate or muriate of 
potash, nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, etc. The fact that 
any one of these has greatly increased crops would not prove that the 
land needed it ; it would not even prove that the substance was a 
plant-food. The increased crop might be due to food in the soil, pre- 
viously inert, rendered soluble by the salt, plaster, lime, nitrate of 
soda, or potash. In other words, their action was essentially that of a 
stimulant, because the land has been forced to yield up what it was 
otherwise powerless to have done. So it is that certain more or less 
impoverished soils may be lashed into yielding abundantly, while every 
year becoming poorer, until they become so exhausted that they have 
nothing more for the time to give. Everything has been taken from 
them, and now every thing must be supplied. A neighboring farmer 
ten years ago told the writer that his father had " brought up " his 
farm by lime, and that he (the son) proposed to continue its use. 
He has since changed his mind, for the reason that he cannot raise 
paying crops without manure or fertilizers, no matter how much lime 
is used. How many readers have had a similar experience ? We 
may here call attention to the fact, not generally considered, that two 
'■'■complete'" fertilizers which analyze the same, may yet give very 
different results, not because the food of the one is more available 
than that of the other, as when leather or shoddy is employed to 
furnish nitrogen, or undissolved South Carolina rock phosphoric 
acid, but because in the one different forms of the same constituent 
may be used. Thus, for example, in a potato fertilizer, if the nitro- 
gen were furnished by bone and blood, both slowly soluble, we should 
not look for so large a yield as if nitrate of soda and sulphate of 
ammonia were added. What is needed is food adapted to the plant 
from the beginning to maturity, so that it shall not suffer during any period 
of its growth, in so far as abundant and assimilable food can prevent. 
And these facts, which are positively known to be facts, we would 
gladly, by iteration and reiteration, if necessary, impress upon those 



Analyses and Fertilizers. 127 

readers who, through perfunctory investigations or from merely 
jumping at conclusions without any rational data to guide them, de- 
nounce concentrated fertilizers as worthless. 



HOW MONEY IS THROWN AWAY. 

Suppose, as has previously been said, we should separate farm ma- 
nure into three parts, viz, : phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen, the 
three constituents which, as we have had it drummed into us for 
many years, all plants must be supplied with, and which impoverished 
soils do not furnish in available forms. Suppose that we give a crop 
a large quantity of one of these constituents, and that the crop shows 
no benefit from the application ; would that prove farm manure to be 
ineffectual ? Not at all. Suppose we sow super-phosphate or potash, 
or nitrogen, upon our soil — only one, or even two — and the crop is 
not appreciably better ; would that prove that the so-called chemical 
fertilizers are of no use ? It would prove just exactly as much in the 
one case as in the other. It would only prove one of two things ; 
first, that the soil was rich and needed no plant food, or second, that 
the soil was so impoverished that it needed all. 

If farmers buy bone ash, which furnishes only phosphoric acid ; or 
sulphate or muriate of potash, which furnishes only potash ; or ni- 
trate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, which furnishes only nitrogen, 
and spread it upon a poor soil which needs all three, they will get no 
adequate increase of crops — and they may rely upon it. But they 
must not, therefore, condemn the use of concentrated fertilizers. In 
this connection, let me ask the reader again to refer to the effects of 
the various fertilizers upon potatoes raised upon my "worn-out" 
soil. Is not the lesson taught by them conclusive ? Potash, as it ex- 
ists in kainit, applied at the rate of two tons to the acre, gave no in- 
crease in the yield. Burnt bone had little effect. Nitrogen was not 
effective, except (in most cases) to make an early promise which was 
broken later. But' the complete fertilizers gave large yields. 

I conjure you, farmers (and I would repeat it again and again), un- 
less you desire to throw your money away — do not buy special or low 
grade fertilizers, unless by actual tests you happen to know just what 
your land needs. A cheap fertilizer means one that supplies a low 
per cent, of plant-food ; or else it means a special or comparatively 



128 The New Potato Ctilture. 

worthless fertilizer, like ground leather, hair, wool, plaster, salt or 
something of the kind. 

Suppose you apply 1,000 pounds of bone-flour to your land each 
year for 10 years. Finding it of great service for five years, it is con- 
tinued. But the farmer finds, later, that it does not increase his 
crops at all. He might naturally, though erroneously, call his land 
"bone-sick." Now, let him apply potash and the land responds at 
once, giving the finest crop ever raised upon the farm. The trouble 
was, not that the land had too much bone or phosphoric acid, but too 
little potash. The crops had appropriated all the available potash 
and could not live on bones alone. So, in like manner, land might 
seem to become "potash-sick." In such a case bone-flour would 
prove a specific cure. Farmers should not overlook the fact that 
when an imperfect food alone is furnished to plants, they cannot 
thrive unless the soil supplies the constituents which the imperfect 
food does not supply. In the course of time the land yields up its 
present store and a perfect food must be supplied. 

A TALK WITH FARMERS ABOUT CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS. 

The following is almost a verbatim report of talks I have had with 
farmers living about us. It may serve to emphasize what has pre- 
viously been said upon the rational use of fertilizers. 

FARMER A. 

" How did your potatoes turn out ?" 

Farmer A. : "Those manured with farm manure plowed in last 
fall vielded 200 bushels to the acre. Those upon which I used « phos- 
phates ' yielded about 150." 

"What was the 'phosphate' ?" 

A.: "I don't know. I bought it for $20 a ton." 

" Did you ever try a higher grade of fertilizer ?" 

A.: "Yes. Last year I paid $30 a ton, and spread it on rye at 
the rate of 500 pounds to the acre. I left a piece about 50 feet square 
without any 'phosphate'. This piece was just as good as the rest. 
Once I tried kainit, but it did not increase the crop of corn. There 
is nothing like farm manure, if I could only afford to buy it. Lime is 
the best fertilizer for me. It has done my land more good than all 
your 'phosphates.'" 



Analyses and Fertilizers. i 2 > 

"What do you understand by the word 'phosphate' ?" 
A.: " I understand it to mean chemical fertilizers." 
" And what are the chemical fertilizers made of ?" 
A.: "Of 'phosphates', I suppose." 

' ' Here we have a ' phosphate ' that costs $45 per ton, and here is an- 
other brand for $20. Why is it, think you, that many farmers pre- 
fer the $45 ' phosphate ' ?" 

A.: " I cannot say. I should feel that I was throwing away my 
money. My idea was to experiment with the low-piiced fertilizer first 
and if I found it increased my crops, I then proposed to try a higher- 
priced article. But my opinion is that 'phosphates' don't pay on 
my farm." 

FARMER B. 

"Do you use chemical fertilizers ?" 

Farmer B.: "No. I use lime. My father before me brought up 
this farm with lime, and I use it in preference to anything else, ex- 
cept manure." 

" Do you buy manure ?*' 

B.: "No. I use what we make from our two horses, four 1 ows, 
from the pigs and poultry. My farm consists of 70 acres." 

" Do you raise wheat ?" 

B.: "No, we cannot raise wheat any more. Besides, rye pays 
better. The straw always brings a good price." 

" And why cannot you raise wheat ?" 

A.: " Oh ! the climate seems to have changed, or at any rate the 
farm does not seem to be adapted to it any longer." 

"And bow about corn ? Can you raise as much corn as you could 
years ago ?" 

B.: " Field corn is no longer a paying crop with me. I raise sweet 
corn, manuring it in the hill, and send it to market. Sweet corn, 
lima beans and tomatoes pay me best. All are well manured in the 
hill." 

" Do you raise clover ?" 

B.: "Yes, we seed to timothy and clover after sweet corn. But 
clover is uncertain now-a-days. Sometimes we get a catch, oftener 
not. The same change of climate seems to be the cause. Years ago, 
we could raise peaches here in abundance. Now they are of no ac- 
count, and so it goes." 
p.— 9 



132 The New Potato Culture. 

the same as phosphate, because both are misleading. A complete 
fertilizer could be made up that would be worth less than $5 a ton. 
Muck, containing a trace of each of the three plant foods, would be as 
complete in the mercantile sense as if it contained large percentages." 

D. : " Raw-bone contains phosphoric acid and nitrogen. Suppose 
we add potash in any form, would that not be a good complete fer- 
tilizer ?" t 

" Not the best. Raw-bone is slow to decompose. Neither its nitro 
gen nor phosphoric acid is immediately available. Besides its per 
cent, of nitrogen is rather low, being less generally than three per 
cent. Probably the best fertilizers are made up of many different 
sorts of plant food. For example, the nitrogen may be supplied by 
fish, nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, blood and guano. In such 
fertilizers, the nitrogen is available trom the beginning to the end of 
the plant's life. First, the nitrate of soda is at once ready for the 
plant; then the sulphate of ammonia ; then the guano, blood and fish. 
It is the same with phosphoric acid. This should be furnished by 
super- phosphate first, then by raw-bone, etc., so that the plant shall 
have a ready supply at every stage of its growth." 

D.: " How am I to be assured that I get all this, even though I 
buy the highest grades of fertilizers ?" 

"You can't. All you can do is to buy of reputable firms who agree 
to sell you what you ask for. The analyses, as published in the bul- 
letins periodically issued by experiment stations, are helpful guides ; 
the crops must show the rest." 

D. : " My neighbor used 600 pounds to the acre of high-grade 
$4.o-fertilizer last season on his corn. The crop was very poor." 

" And the season was dry ?" 

D.: "Yes." 

" Have you never known farm manure to fail in such a season ?' 

D. : " Do you advise farmers to use fertilizers ?" 

" It is far beyond any one to advise in the matter, further than to 
say that farmers cannot use them to the best advantage, except by 
chance, unless they study the science of fertilizers as they would 
study a book, and then, with the light of such knowledge, experiment 
with them in their own fields. Each farmer would then be enabled 
to answer the question for himself. No one can answer it for him. 



Analyses a?id Fertilizers. 133 

THE POTATO'S NEEDS. 

To sum up the demand of successful potato culture, a farmer must 
know, by actual trial 011 his own grounds, what varieties succeed best, 
in order to insure the best results ; also, if possible, at what season 
he had best plant his crop so that it may be supported by plentiful 
rain-falls at the time of the setting of the tubers ; also the fields best 
adapted to the growth of potatoes ; then he must act accordingly. 
In a series of years a farmer, acting on such geueral principles, will 
be more likely to be successful than one who p'.ants such sorts as he 
may have on hand, and at such times as best suits his convenience, 
without regard to the quality of the seed or its adaptedness to his 
so'l, as it is now a well established fact that a variety that succeeds 
well in some localities, is comparatively worthless in others. 

A mellow soil, a moist soil well drained ; plenty of potash, nitro- 
gen, phosphoric acid, lime, and possibly magnesia, sulphur and salt, 
for mechanical effects, or for an effect not understood ; give the seed 
pieces enough flesh to support them until the shoots can be sup- 
ported by their own roots. Plant them in depth according to the soil, 
whether inclining to clay or sand, from three inches to five inches. 
The distance of the hills or drills, and the pieces in them, should be 
regulated by the vigor and size of the varieties planted. Rank-grow- 
ing varieties, the same as tall-growing corn, will not yield well if 
planted too closely together. Hilling-up on well drained land never 
increases the crop. The fibrous roots extend from hill to hill, from 
row to row, and the soil should not be taken from them to heap it up 
about the stems where it is not needed. In hill culture, where the 
tubers crowd each other out of the ground, hilling-up is necessary 
only to protect the potatoes from the air and light. Broadcast ma- 
nuring is better than manuring in the hill, for the reason that it is the 
fibrous roots that need the food — not the tubers, which are fed by 
the fibrous roots. Kill the potato beetles before they have injured 
the foliage. Any injury to the foliage will impair the vigor of the 
plant, and less vigor in the plant means less crop. 

THE DIFFERENCE. 

It is unfortunate that the name "chemical fertilizer" should be 
generally accepted as something different from "manure.' They are 



134 The New Potato Culture. 

precisely the same thing. That is to say, if we desire to answer the 
question, " What is manure?" we must answer that it consists of just 
those constituents which by chemists are called nitrogen, sulphuric 
acid, gypsum, potash, copperas, ammonia, magnesia, silicon, etc. If 
we burn a quantity of straw, grass, wood, flesh or any other sub- 
stance, we have the ash constituents remaining. They are the so- 
called chemical fertilizers, excepting that the nitrogen, carbon, oxy- 
gen, hydrogen, etc., have escaped in the form of gas. If we take a 
rock and pound it to a very fine powder, we have a manure or fertilizer, 
and its value depends upon its content of those materials which plants 
need. We do not consider bone or South Carolina rock a chemical 
fertilizer per se, and yet either is, in fact, just as much a chemical fer- 
tilizer as is nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, muriate or sulphate 
of potash, for the reason that they are valuable as a plant food only 
as they contain those substances. It is just the same with any kind 
of manure. The essential difference between farm manure and chem- 
ical fertilizers is that the former is bulky, slow to decay, yielding up 
to plants its nourishing elements not until they have become soluble by 
slow combustion. While, too, this bulk is decomposing, it exerts a 
mechanical influence on the soil, making it lighter, admitting more air 
and moisture to the plants, which are hungry to avail themselves of 
either. 

It is with agricultural chemists as with other scientific individuals — 
they are not aware to what extent the employment of so-called scien- 
tific terms renders their work Greek to the mass of those they seek to 
instruct. If farmers were at once to understand that chemical fertil- 
izers are merely concentrated farm manure, they would not be so prone 
to regard a sufficient understanding of the action of these fertilizers 
as something beyond their comprehension without an amount of study 
which they believe themselves unable to give to the subject. Concen- 
trated manure and farm manure would be the better names to give re- 
spectively to the waste products of the farm and to those self-same 
products which are now known only as " chemical fertilizers. ' 



CHAPTER XV. 



Seedling Potatoes. How to plant the seed and treat the seed- 
lings. Every gardener and farmer should raise his own 
varieties. How to selecl. Should we save tubers from 
the most productive hills ? Why the same variety varies. 

IT IS NOW some fifteen years ago that I began to raise potatoes 
from seed. Previous to that time, raising potatoes from seed was 
supposed to be a very hard thing to do; there were "secrets 
about it known only to a few,'' I was told, upon inquiry of a leading 
seedsman of those days. The seed and seedlings needed "bottom 
heat,'' and thereafter even temperature and steady moisture, such as 
could be given only in glass structures fitted especially for such work. 
The truth is, as many of my readers are now aware, ihat potato seeds 
germinate somewhat more readily than tomato seeds, and, until set 
out in the open ground, may be treated in precisely the same way. 
From the time that I found this out up to this day, I have advocated 
seedling potato culture, through the farm press. New varieties of 
potatoes are absolutely necessary from time to time. All varieties, 
after a time, degenerate or "run out," as most farmers select their 
"seed.'' Millions of dollars have been spent for new potato "seed," 
that might just as well have been raised at home. 

SEED BALLS oil FRUIT. 

Let us gather the seed balls, apples, or whatever one chooses to 
call them, from the potato vines as soon as they begin to die. These 

(i35) 



136 The New Potato Culture. 

may be kept until they begin to wither or rot, when the flesh is parted 
from the seed and the latter dried and preserved the same as any 
other seeds, until sowing time arrives. The seed ball of a potato is 
the proper fruit, as the tomato is the fruit of the tomato plant. The 
tuber of a potato is merely a swollen underground stem, quite dis- 
tinct from the roots. Indeed, tubers often form above ground in the 
axils of the green stems, as no doubt readers have had occasion to 
notice. The so-called " eyes " of the potato tuber are buds which, 
as we also know, push and form stems and leaves feeding upon the 
decomposing flesh of the tuber itself. Potatoes may be, and are, 
grown from these stems, and in this way large quantities may be 
raised from a single tuber by pulling off the shoots and planting 
them as they grow. But this is a branch of the subject which is 
treated elsewhere. 

In times gone by potato plants fruited plentifully, and potato apples 
could be procured in unlimited quantities. It is different now. 
Many of our present kinds do not fruit at all — some of them do not 
even bloom. Twelve years ago I raised 62 different varieties and 
was unable either to procure any pollen for the purpose of crossing, 
or a single seed ball. The past season, of 50 different kinds, ten 
bore seed balls, one — Wall's Orange — in large quantities, a cluster of 
which is shown at Fig. 14, p. 139. When it is considered that potatoes 
have been bred and cultivated for the tubers alone, it is not surpris- 
ing perhaps, that the plants should incline to fruit less and less with 
every year. Some say that the yield of potatoes 50 years ago was 
greater than now, ana that, therefore, the potato is less productive 
now than then. This, while perhaps true in fact, is no doubt an erro- 
neous view as to the cause. If our ancestors had had our present 
varieties they would probably have produced very much larger crops. 
The buds or eyes of potatoes sometimes vary, as has been stated, 
producing potatoes that differ in quality, in color or in time of maturing. 
Thus we have the Late Rose, Beauty of Hebron, etc., from Early 
Rose and Beauty of Hebron. But potatoes never " mix in the hill " 
from contact, as some suppose. We can produce new varieties at 
will onlv from the seed. 



136 The New Potato Culture. 

may be kept until they begin to wither or rot, when the flesh is parted 
from the seed and the latter dried and preserved the same as any 
other seeds, until sowing time arrives. The seed ball of a potato is 
the proper fruit, as the tomato is the fruit of the tomato plant. The 
tuber of a potato is merely a swollen underground stem, quite dis- 
tinct from the roots. Indeed, tubers often form above ground in the 
axils of the green stems, as no doubt readers have had occasion to 
notice. The so-called " eyes" of the potato tuber are buds which, 
as we also know, push and form stems and leaves feeding upon the 
decomposing flesh of the tuber itself. Potatoes may be, and are, 
grown from these stems, and in this way large quantities may be 
raised from a single tuber by pulling off the shoots and planting 
them as they grow. But this is a branch of the subject which is 
treated elsewhere. 

In times gone by potato plants fruited plentifully, and potato apples 
could be procured in unlimited quantities. It is different now. 
Many of our present kinds do not fruit at all — some of them do not 
even bloom. Twelve years ago I raised 62 different varieties and 
was unable either to procure any pollen for the purpose of crossing, 
or a single seed ball. The past season, of 50 different kinds, ten 
bore seed balls, one — Wall's Orange — in large quantities, a cluster of 
which is shown at Fig. 14, p. 139. When it is considered that potatoes 
have been bred and cultivated for the tubers alone, it is not surpris- 
ing perhaps, that the plants should incline to fruit less and less with 
every year. Some say that the yield of potatoes 50 years ago was 
greater than now, ana that, therefore, the potato is less productive 
now than then. This, while perhaps true in fact, is no doubt an erro- 
neous view as to the cause. If our ancestors had had our present 
varieties they would probably have produced very much larger crops. 
The buds or eyes of potatoes sometimes vary, as has been stated, 
producing potatoes that differ in quality, in color or in time of maturing. 
Thus we have the Late Rose, Beauty of Hebron, etc., from Early 
Rose and Beauty of Hebron. But potatoes never " mix in the hill " 
from contact, as some suppose. We can produce new varieties at 
will only from the seed. 



Seedling Potatoes. 



137 



SELECTION hi SEEDS. 

It seems hardly necessary to advise that balls from the best va- 
rieties should alone be saved — the best yielders, the 
best in quality, in shape ; the best keepers and those 
which are least liable to disease. If our own po- 
tato vines produce no balls, probably they may be 
found in our neighbors' fields or patches. If they 
too fail, we may write to friends in other states or 
localities or we may purchase them of seedsmen. 
We will suppose that the reader has neither green- 
houses nor plant frames of any kind. We should 
next require a sunny window facing the east or south 

or, better, southeast, and a room in which the temperature never 

falls below 35 degrees. 




Fig. 



PLANTING. 

Provide well-drained flower pots, filled with mellow garden soil. 
Press the soil firmly with the bottom of another flower pot. Then 
sow the seeds evenly half-an-inch apart and cover with one-eighth 
inch of soil, and again press the soil — this time lightly. Place these 
pots in pans or buckets of water so that the water comes up outside 
the pots nearly as high as the surface of the soil, and leave them 
until the surface soil begins to show it is wet. Remove them then 
to the sunny window and cover each with glass. So treated they will 
need no more water until germination takes place, which will be in 
about a week or ten days. The glasses may be removed as soon as 
most of the seeds have sprouted. It is better, however, to remove 
the glass gradually, first by raising it an eighth of an inch, then a 
quarter and finally lifting it off entirely. We prefer this method of 
supplying water to surface-watering for several reasons, chief among 
which is that the, soil is not washed off the seed. The first leaves ap- 
pear as in Fig. 13 A, the later leaves as in Fig. 13 B. We should 
advise that the seeds be sown not until late February, or early March. 
The little plants will then be large enough to transplant to little pots 
(say three inches in diameter) by early April. A pocket-knife blade 
is as good as anything for the purpose of " pricking out " the plants, 
only one of which should be planted in each thumb-pot. 



138 



The New Potato Culture. 



CARE OK THE PLANTS. 





Fig. 13. 



Thereafter their treatment 



By April 20 many leaves will be found to be of the shape and size of 
Fig. 12, while the plants will have reached the average height of four 
inches — some strong, some puny. The one thing now to be borne in 
mind is that these seedlings do not receive a check from over or in- 
sufficient watering, from too much or 
too little heat, or from any other 
cause, otherwise the swelling stems or 
little tubers will cease to grow or they 
will make a second growth. 

As soon as all danger of frost is 
over, we may now transplant our seed- 
ling vines to a warm, well prepared 
plot. Dig little holes with a trowel, 
one foot apart, in drills three feet apart, 
and thump the balls of earth, which 
will be held firmly together by the 
fibrous roots of the plants, out of the 
pots and set them firmly in these holes, 
will be the same as potato plants from eyes. 

If it be desired to raise the largest crop and the largest tubers from 
seed, and one has a greenhouse, the seed may be sown in January. 
As the little pots into which the seedlings are transplanted become 
filled with roots, they (the seedlings) may be thumped out and placed 
in larger pots. Set out in the open, as above described, after there is 
no longer danger of frost, the tops will grow as large as those of 
other plants, while many of the tubers will be found to be of market- 
able size. 

Our view has been that farmers may raise seedlings that will be 
found to be better adapted to their farms than most of the hundreds 
of kinds offered for sale. Then again in the case of a lucky hit, the 
variety might be sold to some enterprising seedsman for a price that 
would well repay the producer for all his time and trouble. The seeds 
will sprout about as readily as tomato seeds. The trouble begins when 
the little tender plants are set out in the open ground. The beetles 
attack both leaf and stem and destroy them in a few days. The seed- 
lings catinot be saved by any application of arsenic or other poisons. 



Seedling Potatoes. 



139 




Fig. 14. 
Fruit balls of Wall's Orange potato. 

The injury to the leaves and stems which the beetles or grubs will eat 
before the poison kills them will destroy the vines. Besides they are 
so tender that they cannot even stand the plaster alone— much less 
poisoned plaster. 



140 The New Potato Culture. 

As soon as the seedlings are set in the garden, mosquito netting, 
one yard wide, is stretched lengthwise of the rows and supported 
above the vines by half-hoops or sticks, placed at intervals of four 
feet, like the rafters of a double pitch roof, and the peaks are con- 
nected by horizontal sticks tied to the peaks, or where the two sticks 
meet, giving all needed support to the netting above, while the edges 
on either side are held in place below merely by covering them with 
an inch of soil, or by narrow boards. We have now a two-pitched 
or oval covering, which is quickly made and at merely the cost of the 
netting. This protects the vines thoroughly until they fill the trian- 
gular or oval space, when they are large and strong enough to stand 
poisoned plaster, and the netting may be removed, to be used a second 
time the next season. 

SHOULD WE SELECT SEED POTATOES FROM THE MOST PRODUC- 
TIVE HILLS ? 

Some years ago, Dr. Sturtevant, the director of the New York Experi- 
ment Station at the time, stated that he found that potatoes selected 
for "seed'' from the most prolific hills gave greater yields than the 
''seed" selected from hills yielding the smallest number and weight 
of tubers. 

The late Peter Henderson, commenting upon this, took the view 
that "further experiments will show that this increased productive- 
ness will not continue to hold, because the reason for the greater or 
less yield was probably only an accident of circumstances, due to 
specially favorable conditions of the set m.ide to form the hill, or to 
being highly fertilized, or to some such cause that gave it this tem- 
porary advantage ; and that the chances are all against any perma- 
nent improvement being made by such selections." 

This is certainly a very important question. A potato, it must be re- 
peated, is a peculiar stem, with buds. Its peculiarity is that which gives 
it value as food, which is starchy, tender and wholesome. When 
these swollen stems are planted, the buds (eyes) grow, the same as 
any other buds, and from the underground portion of these shoots 
issue roots and other stems, the extremities of which swell, forming 
tubers. Some of these grow large and shapely ; others small and ill 
shapen. Still others are just beginning to form as the season ad- 



Seedling Potatoes. 141 

vances, even as the vines die and the tubers are harvested. Every 
so-called variety of potato has, when all its needs are supplied, a cer- 
tain limit as to size and perfection. All tubers which do not so develop 
arc retarded or injured in one way or another. Some are harmed by 
drought or by too much moisture ; some by insects ; while the shape 
is modified by the heaviness or lightness of the soil, by stones or by 
growing too close together. Potatoes grown in pure sand, and fed 
with liquid food, are, as we have shown, always smooth and perfect in 
form ; that is, perfect, according to the standard of the particular vari- 
ety cultivated. It may well be thought that any irregularity in shape, 
due to stones or a too compact soil, etc., would never be repeated and 
become fixed were such deformed potatoes planted again and again. 
It seems reasonable, however, to suppose that those tubers which are 
harmed by parasites, or rot, or insects, have thereby sustained in- 
juries which, decomposing the tissue, must weaken the virility of the 
buds and shoots. The smaller and smallest potatoes of a crop are 
those which have been dwarfed from some cause. The formation of 
more tubers than the parent plant could support is, perhaps, one 
cause ; and the formation of tubers too late to mature is, no doubt, 
another. It may be a matter of pure conjecture whether, in the 
former case, the dwarfed potatoes are possessed of as much vigor as 
the largest one. But, in the latter case, all analogies point to the 
conclusion that immature tubers, as well as immature cuttings of any 
kind, will produce comparatively feeble plants. This is well exem- 
plified by the weakened constitution of grape-vines grown from green 
wood. 

What is called " bud variation " is, as is well known, common 
enough. Thus it is we have many of our most prized orna- 
mental plants, as, for example, weeping and variegated trees, shrubs 
and house plants. The writer has in mind a willow, a few branches 
of which bore leaves splashed and striped with bright yellow. By 
starting cuttings from the variegated shoots for several generations, 
the variegation has become fixed, while the original tree has lost its 
variegation. Similar cases often occur with potatoes. We have now 
a purple-skinned potato that matured on a plant all the other tubers 
of which were buff-skinned, and the potatoes are notably different in 
quality. If such qualities may be fixed by selection, why may not 
also increased productiveness be fixed by selection ? Let us now 



14? The Nezc Potato Culture. 

speak of the variations which occur in young and seedling potatoes, 
which, we fancy, will give emphasis to the view we have taken, viz : 
that productiveness may be increased by selecting, not only tubers 
from the best hills, but, it may be added, from the shapeliest and 
most perfect individuals in such hills. 

Let us sow seeds — true seeds from the fruit or seed-ball. Each 
plant may produce, let us say 15 tubers, varying in size from a pea to 
an egg. They will also vary in shape. Some will be round and 
smooth ; others pointed at the ends, others long and slender. Every 
experienced seedling potato grower knows that he can generally se- 
cure the shape desired by planting tubers of that shape and then again 
selecting the same shape for the next crop, until the variety is con- 
sidered established and ready to turn upon the market. From the 
same seedling plant, therefore, he can oftentimes propagate varieties 
which shall be round, flattened, cylindrical, or "kidney" shaped. 
Seedling potatoes often, also, vary in color, and the color can be fixed 
by selection, as just described. No less does the productiveness of 
tubers from the same seedling plant vary. This I have seen in my 
experience again and again. The tubers from an original seedling 
plant will vary in yield as much as they will vary in shape or color, 
or in depth of eyes. I do not know the practice of all originators of 
new potatoes, but I do know that some of them select for the second 
planting those tubers which closely resemble one another in shape 
and general appearance without the least regard for or any knowl- 
edge of their different yielding powers. The next season selection is 
again made from these according to appearance, time of ripening, 
etc. Finally the new variety is ready to be sold. The tubers bring 
from 25 cents to $1 a pound, and single potatoes are sent all over 
the country. Is it surprising that many report that the new potato 
is immensely productive, while others report otherwise ? Further 
than this : I know of seedling potato growers that select tubers from 
more than one hill if the seed planted is the same and the appearance 
of tubers of the different seedlings is the same. According to this, 
a dozen or more kinds differing in productiveness and in quality are 
sent out under the same name. Evidently we should gain in such cases 
by selecting the best tubers of the most productive hills. Evidently 
again, farmer Jones may find the new seedling of a better quality 
and a greater yielder than farmer Brown, who purchased the " seed " 



Seedling Potatoes. 143 

from the same seedsman, and gave the same or even better cultiva- 
tion. The fact is that the two men plant and raise potatoes which 
are really different in quality and productiveness, though to all out- 
ward appearances they are much the same. 

LET IT BE REPEATED. 

Of seed tubers, save only the largest and shapeliest from the most 
productive hills for future propagation, and start a variety from a single 
tuber. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Care of the seed. Exposing sound seed to light and sun before 
planting. How to deteet impotent eves. Lime as a pre- 
server. Handling. Digging potatoes by machinery. 
Poisoning. 

IT IS my opinion that it will pay farmers to place their seed-pieces 
(if sound, that is, not sprouted) in light, sunny places ten days 
before planting time. They can then cut their seed intelligently, 
according to the number and vigor of the eyes. In this way a 
perfect stand may be secured, and it may be doubted if it can be se- 
cured in any other way. The seed, of course, must be kept sound, or 
nothing can be gained by the exposure to light and warmth. Prob- 
ably seed raised in Ohio or Pennsylvania or Illinois will yield just as 
well as seed from Maine or Canada, provided it can be kept from 
sprouting. 

Let us place our sound seed then in a temperature of 70 degrees 
for ten days. All the potent eyes will develop a short, stubby, warty 
growth not easily broken off in the usual handling, and the tubers 
may be cut accordingly. 

Mr. G. W. P. Jerrard, of Caribou, Maine, plants his seed potatoes 
fresh from his cool cellars when they are nearly as dormant as when 
dug in the autumn before. He finds they come through the ground 
with a big vigorous shoot and maintain a superior vigor all through 
the season. Seed potatoes from which sprouts have been removed 
once or more, lack vitality as compared with fresh ones. He stores 
his potatoes in deep, cool cellars, in bins 4 feet wide and $y 2 feet 
deep, one above another, two high, with a floor and air space between 
them. They have plenty of air in the fall, bnt not in the spring, and 
they do not sprout until June. 

(i44) 



Care of the Seed and Crop. 145 

Mr. Geo. E. Waring, a correspondent, says that while we all know 
that a low temperature prevents tubers from sprouting, it is not gen- 
erally known that cold much below 40 degrees and quite above freez- 
ing, will permanently impair their power of germination. Seed po- 
tatoes should be kept with much care in this respect, at a few de- 
grees higher than is best for winter apples, and never too low, even for 
a short time. 



has often been recommended as a preventive of potato rot. The 
N. Y. Experiment Station does not find it so. The Director filled two 
barrels with sound White Star potatoes, in the fall of 18S3, in one of 
which he sprinkled air-slaked lime, as the tubers were put in, in suffi- 
cient quantity to whiten them. On April 3d, the potatoes in both 
barrels were examined. The one treated with lime had 68 decayed 
tubers, while the other contained but 5 z. It thus appears that in 
this experiment the lime exerted no beneficial influence. 

Many people are in favor of leaving potatoes in the ground to the 
latest safe hour, say early November, and this even for those matur- 
ing in July. Taking one season with another, this has been the 
writer's experience — an experience rendered necessary, in great part, 
in order to secure to his experiments equivalent conditions. 

HANDLING. 

A friend writes that he has tried several ways of harvesting pota- 
toes, but finds that if good help can be had, digging by hand is the 
best. Last year his men dug with a potato fork, taking two rows 
each and going backward, throwing the potatoes from the two rows 
together, leaving them in good shape to pick up. He had one man 
that would dig 100 bushels every day, and dig them clean. His po- 
tatoes are sorted in the field ; to do the job there requires less time 
and labor than when left for some other time. Small potatoes are 
drawn into the barn and fed to the cows, except several barrels that 
are put into the cellar to be cooked and fed to the chickens during 
the winter. 

Another correspondent writes that he digs his potatoes by hand, 
with hooks ; he prefers hooks to forks, hoes or diggers ; he can get 
p. — 10 



146 The Nets.' Potato Ctclture. 

all the potatoes in a hill without bruising them. He always sorts in 
the field, making two pickings. Small potatoes are fed to stock. 
Owing to the waste of shrinkage, interest, resorting, frost, rotting and 
other risks one must run, the chances of an extra price in spring are 
not enough to pay for holding over. 

A third writes that if the potatoes are to be shipped in bulk in a 
car, or put directly in:o the cellar, the cheapest way to handle them 
is in sacks. Scatter the sacks along so they will be convenient, and 
pick the potatoes up into small baskets, so that you can hold the sack 
and empty the potatoes into it without help. Then put only a bushel 
into a sack ; one man can easily throw this into the wagon without 
help, and there will be no need of tying a sack only half full. With 
one man in the wagon to place the sacks, and two to hand them up, 
it is the work of a very few moments to load, and the unloading can 
be done as rapidly. 

Every person who raises many potatoes, writes a fourth friend, 
should have a number of small boxes holding about a bushel each. 
These can be placed along the rows and filled from the ground. 
They should be placed in the wagon and not emptied until the barn 
or cellar is reached. Most farmers handle their potatoes over three 
or four times in passing from the ground to the bin. Why handle 
them unnecessarily ? What must we think of a farmer who has to 
mow down the weeds on his patch in order to find his potatoes ? 

DIGGING POTATOES BY MACHINERY. 

An expert can dig half an acre even of drilled potatoes, in a day of 
ten hours, if the crop is clean. But ordinary men would be about 
three days digging an acre. The cost of this amount of labor, in- 
cluding the board, would be about $4. There are more farmers who 
get their potatoes dug at a greater cost per acre than this, than there 
arc who pay less. Thus writes Mr. T. B. Terry, of Ohio, who has 
been very successful in potato farming. For three years past he has 
used a digger, which cost $ico. Hand labor has been entirely dis- 
pensed with, except at the ends of the field and when digging unripe 
potatoes for the market. About an hour's work in the morning, and 
as much more after dinner, would dig as many potatoes as his help 
would pick up. With the conditions all just right, he has dug an acre 
in two hours, but ordinarily it would take about three. 



Care of the Seed and Crop. 147 

Instead of paying out about $50 a season for extra help to dig his 
crop, the machine now does it, and he hardly misses the time spent in 
riding on it, and of course he pockets the $50. This is more than 
literally true now, for of course the machine has more than saved its 
first cost. Again, he can rush business, putting all the help at pick- 
ing up. He is quite independent, also, for any one can pick up, but 
few can dig well and fast. The machine wears fast, but probably 
$10 would cover the wear to date. In replying to'a question which I 
asked Mr. Terry, he says that he has always practiced shallow culti- 
vation until the growth of vines prevented it. It is true, as he be- 
lieves, that the "trenches" render cultivation less necessary, but it 
is nevertheless of the first importance if we would secure a maxi- 
mum yield. Keep the surface soil mellow as long as possible. 
Plants cannot do their best in a compact soil — it matters not what the 
plant is —a rose, a pansy, a corn or potato plant. If I have en- 
deavored to impress one thing more than another upon my readers 
it is the importance of a mellow surface during plant growth. I 
began its advocacy years ago when, upon a measured acre of land, I 
raised over 130 bushels of shelled corn. At the same time I began 
the advocacy of shallow cultivation for corn — since extended to pota- 
toes. When I began to talk of shallow cultivation for corn, other 
journals were commending the "root pruning" absurdity. Now, 
there are few good farmers who care to sever the roots of the grow- 
ing corn, and it is evident that shallow cultivation for potatoes is all 
the while gaining friends. 

PARIS GREEN. 

I am of the opinion now, as I have been for several years past, 
that the most economical way to apply Paris green is to thoroughly 
mix it with plaster, as previously described, rather than with water. 
In the latter the poison cannot be equally distributed, stir the water 
as we may. The upper portions of the water will always hold less 
than the lower portions, where the insoluble heavy powder collects in 
larger quantity in spite of constant stirring. The leaves of the pota- 
to plant are harmed by this. Not so with flour or plaster. While 
we must use a dessertspoonful of the green to a pailful of water' to 
render it effective, the same quantity thoroughly mixed with two pail- 
fuls of plaster will prove just as effectual. 



148 The New Potato Culture. 

Again, much of the water applied falls to the ground. A part only 
is retained on the leaves, while nearly all of the poisoned plaste'-, if 
skilfully applied, falls upon and i,s retained by the leaves until the 
next rain. The poisoned water, for the most part, does not settle or 
dry upon the edges of the leaves, but the poison collects as the water 
evaporates near the center or mid-veins or depressions, so that the 
beetles may eat up the best part of the leaf ere they encounter the 
poison, and the leaves are for the most part destroyed. 

PICKING OFF THE BEETLES. 

Nobody that speaks from experience, as it seems to me, will advise 
people to pick off the first potato beetles (parent beetles) by hand in 
order to save work later on when the eggs hatch out. We tried this 
plan thoroughly for several years, and an estimate was kept and pub- 
lished of how many beetles were thus gathered and destroyed daily. 
But it seemed in a great measure a loss of time and toil. It is true 
enough that if all the parent beetles are destroyed, there will be no 
grubs. But this is impracticable. A large proportion at any given 
time are concealed under the soil, while others are creeping from 
place to place, not to speak of those that come from neighboring 
premises. In spite of our care in destroying the beetles and eggs, 
myriads of grubs appeared, and we were at length driven to use 
Paris green the same as in previous years. When writers advise us, 
as many have done, to gather the beetles by hand, we want to tell 
them that if they would practice this advice for one season they 
would not care to offer it again. 



CHAPTER XVII 



Brevities. The objections to hilling up. Mr. Hi'rsey answered. 
Difficulty in crossing potatoes. So-called hybrid seeds are 
not hybrids. Hybrids between the strawberry tomato and 
the potato. Prof. "Bailey's grafting experiments. Why 
plaster is sometimes effective, sometimes not. Questions 
answered. 

VE cannot in these days afford to plant potatoes with deep 
eyes, either for home use or market, 
would be but little trouble to save out the best tubers of 
the most productive hills while digging the crop ; and if 
by so doing we can preserve the original vigor of the varieties, the 
trouble will be well expended. 

We find that there are 673 potatoes of average size in a barrel. 
If the potato pieces are planted in drills one foot apart, the drills 
being three feet apart, 14,520 will be required for an acre, or about 
4J barrels, if we make five pieces of each potato. 

What does the farmer hill up for ? Some do it to kill the weeds. 
Others hill up to increase the crop. This may increase the yield, 
but it also increases the proportion of small potatoes. The green 
stems, covered up by hilling, send out roots and tuber-bearing stems 
from joints or adventitious buds. The hill accomplishes only what 
the trench accomplishes far better, by giving a depth of soil below, 
instead of above, and a more uniform pressure on all sides to be 
overcome by the rapidly growing tuber. 

The practice of hilling up corn and potatoes is not only robbing 
Peter to pay Paul, but is worse than that. It is both robbing Peter 

(H9) 



150 The New Potato Culture. 

and injuring Paul. When corn is a foot high, the roots extend a 
foot on either side; i. <?., the plant is the center of a circle of roots 
at least two feet in diameter. Now, in order to hill up, we take 
away the soil from these root extremities to heap it about the stems 
where it is not needed for any purpose whatever. When the roots 
extend half-way or more between the hills or drills, it is worse. The 
roots are then in a measure deprived of moisture, food and shelter, 
while many of the ro »t ; rthijh the plant needs aie severed. 

The true seeds of potatoes will germinate if three years old. 

Be careful not to plant frost-bitten seed potatoes. 

Avoid ploughing potato land when it is not dry enough to crumble 
as it is plowed. 

It is a good plan, for late potatoes, to sow blood, nitrate of soda or 
sulphate of ammonia not until the sprouts show themselves above the 
ground. 

Cultivate shallow if you would avoid the worst effects of dry 
weather. 

Mr. Edmund Hirsey, of Massachusetts, has carried on a series of 
experiments with potatoes for several years. He arrives at some 
conclusions which are at a variance with the results of my own 
experiments. "The form of a potato," he says, " cannot as a rule 
be changed by the selection of any particular form." This may be 
true of well established varieties, but it is not true as to the selec- 
tion of the tubers which true seed produces. We have repeatedly 
selected differently shaped potatoes produced by the seedling plant, 
establishing varieties widely differing from each other in shape. (See 
Chap. XV.) 

Again he says : " The seed-end of a potato is better to plant than 
the stem end, because the plants start with more vigor and produce 
larger and more potatoes." Yes, the seed end does start earlier and 
more vigorously than the stem-end. It is true also that seed-end 
pieces will produce more potatoes than stem-end pieces — but they 
are smaller. The greater the number of eyes planted, the greater 
the number of sprouts and, consequently, the more potatoes are 
formed. But they are necessarily smaller. He further says that 
"two distinct varieties will not mix in the hill." This is a postulate 
and scarcely needs to be stated. There will always be farmers who 



Brevities. 151 

believe that potatoes do mix in the hill, as well as farmers who believe 
that wheat changes to chess, oats to barley, etc. But until absolute 
proof of such changes has been furnished, we must be guided by 
what we know of the laws of plant growth. 

I have never been able to cross potato flowers, for the reason that 
in spite of diligent search I have never been able to gather any pol- 
len, though no less than an average of 100 different varieties have 
been raised in small quantity every season. And yet, some of our 
seedsmen offer ''hybrid potato seed " for 25 cents the packet. In 
the technical sense, theie is no such thing as "hybrid" potato seed. 
If we were to cross a tomato or an alkekengi and a potato, the seed 
would then be true hybrids. But crosses between different kinds of 
potatoes produce cross-breeds merely, and it is a more correct word 
to use. Hundreds of new seedlings are announced from year to year, 
with both parents given in a positive way. We may reasonably 
believe that the parentage of many of our new potatoes, and the 
hybridizing of these " hybrid " seeds, are merely guessed at or are 
altogether fictitious. Of course, " seed balls" do form, and in such 
cases there must be pollen. But to find pollen and to apply it so 
that a cross is known to have taken place, is a task that no one can 
afford to do, unless, in place of 25 cents a packet, he were to charge 
50 cents or more per seed. 

Speaking of 'hybrid ' potatoes, the following bit of experience 
may interest the reader. An attempt was first made to cross the 
tomato upon the potato. This failed. Pollen from the alkekengi, or 
strawberry tomato, was then applied to the pistils of the potato 
flower, and one seed ball was the result. The several seeds were 
planted, four of which sprouted and grew. The plants resembled po- 
tatoes in all ways save two ; they did not blossom, and in the fall it 
was found, upon digging them up carefully, that not a tuber, nor the 
sign of one, had formed. 

In this connection, the results of grafting potato cions upon tomato 
stems, and vice versa, as effected by Prof. L. H. Bailey, of Cornell 
University, during the past season, may be mentioned. The potato 
plants with tomato tops produced good tubers even when no potato 
sprouts were allowed to grow from the root. The tomato tops in 
some cases produced good, large tomatoes also — two diverse crops 



152 The New Potato Culture. 

from one plant. But the one which produced most tomatoes bore no 
potatoes — the vigor had evidently all gone to the tomato fruits. The 
tomato plants with potato tops grew nicely, but produced no tubers. 
But the potato tops blossomed freely, but no balls set. 

In places where good wood ashes are cheap, farmers should never 
buy chemical fertilizers until the ashes have been tried. A first-rate 
supplement to unlcached ashes is fine raw-bone flour, being strong in 
phof«)horic acid, in which ashes are weak, and furnishing nitrogen, of 
which ashes are destitute. 

Through all times plaster has been regarded by many as a direct 
and very valuable plant-food, especially for clover. By others it has 
been regarded as of no value, for the good reason that no visible 
effects followed its use. In the light of more recent knowledge, such 
contradictory phenomena are apparently well explained. Plaster 
sets the fixed or insoluble potash of the soil free. That is to say, 
the sulphuric acid of the plaster combines with the fixed potash of 
the soil, forming sulphate of potash, which is soluble. So, too, it may 
act upon the carbonate of ammonia of the soil, which is volatile, 
fixing it as sulphate of ammonia, until as such it is used by the grow- 
ing crop or passes through the soil in the drainage water. In most 
cases, it is probable that the lime of the gypsum has little, if any, 
effect in increasing the crop upon soils which are already supplied 
with lime, and yet it is often upon just such soils that gypsum shows 
at its best. In such soils there is little doubt that potash, either in 
unlcached ashes, muriate or sulphate of potash, would have a more 
immediate and telling effect upon the crop. In this case the needed 
element (potash) is given to the soil in a soluble condition ; in the 
other, the plaster splits into two parts, so to say, the lime becoming 
fixed and the sulphuric acid seizing upon the inert potash, rendering 
it soluble. It will be seen that plaster is therefore what may fairly be 
called a stimulant — an excitant. How greatly soever it may increase 
the crop one season, we may look for a proportionate decline the 
next. 

THE KILLING OF POTATO TOPS LESSENS THE VIELD. 

D. F. S. Henderson, Texas. — Does the killing of potato tops by 
late spring frosts diminish the yield or deteriorate the quality of the 
crop? We plant potatoes about February 15, and the tops are fre- 



Brevities. 



J 53 



quently killed by frosts. We get a crop, of course, but is'nt it smaller 
than it would have been had not the frosts killed the tops ? 

Answer. — There can be little doubt that the killing of potato tops 
by frost or any other cause lessens the yield materially and also im- 
pairs the quality of the tuber. If the tops were killed a second time 
by the frost, what would be the effect ? It is true that potatoes may 
be raised from cuttings continuously. The cut tuber used for seed is 
itself a cutting. But the cutting must be a strong, healthy cutting. 
A plant injured by frost is weakened in every part. 

FERTILIZING POTATOES: 

C. J. M., Tom's River, N. J. — In the Rural trench system the fer- 
tilizer is applied above and below the "seed." Do you in general 
favor "hill and drill " or broadcast fertilizing? Am I wrong in 
broadcasting valuable (costly) fertilizers, that is, do I fail to get the 
most profitable immediate returns ? 

Answer. — Above or below or both as one chooses. I have, as a 
rule, favored broadcast fertilizing. For potatoes I favor confining the 
fertilizers to the trenches if one foot or more wide. This is an opinion 
not founded on experiment. For corn, wheat and all crops the roots 
of which extend from row to row and plant to plant, we have no doubt 
that broadcast fertilizing is the most economical thing to do. We 
find that the mass of roots of potatoes grow in the trenches and 
that, therefore, if the trenches are three feet apart, they will get at 
least twice as much fertilizer as if the same gross amount were dis- 
tributed broadcast. 

KEEPING POTATOES. 

W. O. F., Greensburg, Ind. — What is the best plan for keeping po- 
tatoes over winter, especially early potatoes for seed ? 

Answer. — In northern sections the commonest way is to store the 
tubers in cool, well ventilated cellars. Opinions vary as to whether 
the potatoes should be packed in large bins or in smaller lots in bar- 
rels or boxes, but it would seem that most growers store in large 
masses. It pays, as all agree, to shovel or handle the seed potatoes 
over several times during the winter. We have often thought that 
potatoes could be stored very successfully in sacks, which could be 
emptied and refilled once each month, or six weeks, during the winter. 



154 



The New Potato Culture. 



Many of the large growers vice pits for storing. The pit illustrated 
at Fig. 15 is described by W. W. Tracy, of Detroit. The potatoes 
are pur into the pit as soon after being dug as possible, when they are 
covered with straw or corn stalks for a few days. They are then 
covered with boards and earth, the ends of the pit being left operu 
Later the ends are closed, and a small amount of ventilation is af- 
forded by means of a wisp of straw, which extends up through the 
center of the covering to the open air. In the illustration, a repre- 
sents a pole supporting the boards ; b, six inches of earth ; c, eight 
inches of manure ; d t six inches of earth ; <?, eight inches of manure ; 
f y a straw ventilator, and g, a space of eight inches between potatoes 
and boards. 




lev&£ rf Ftt 



SrrOas core red ^Orra*f (> ftCf 

A Potato Pit. Fig. 15. 



LARGEST YIELDERS. 

E. P. N., Albany, N. Y. — What varieties would you select, as likely 
to give the greatest number of bushels to the acre ? 

Answer. — Silver Lake, Everett, Summit, Jewell, Columbia, Charter 
Oak, Morning Star, Early Gem, Snowflake, Late Vermont, White 
Elephant, or late Beauty of Hebron, White Star, Burbank, Empire 
State, Home Comfort, Early Maine, Cream of the Field, Dakota 
Red, R. N.-Y. No. 2, Brownell's Winner, Corliss's Matchless, 
Bonanza, Late Hoosier, Montreal, Green M.ountain, Hodgman's Seed- 
ling, Nott's Victor, Pearl of Savoy, Early Puritan, Rural Blush, Min- 
ister, Tonhosks, Crown Jewel, Polaris, Delaware. Not all of these 



Brevities. 155 

are of good quality, as grown at the Rural Grounds, hut the quality 
may be good in other soils. 

ABOUT POTATO PLANTING. 

J. H. N., Afton, N. Y. — I am going to plant about 14 acres of pota- 
toes on a sandy loam upland. The White Star and Burbank are the 
kinds mostly raised in this section ; would you advise me to plant 
those or some other varieties, and what kind would you advise ? 2. 
How many bushels shall I allow to the acre, and if cut, how many eyes 
to the hill ? 3. Would wood ashes be good as a fertilizer ? 

Anstucr. — 1. It will be safer on large areas to plant potatoes that 
you know do well on other farms near you, than to try experiments. 
New varieties ought always to be tried on small areas. 2. If you 
cut medium sized potatoes, having a medium number of eyes, to two 
eyes, and plant one by three feet apart, you will need 12 to 15 bushels. 
Not less than two strong eyes. Give all the flesh possible. 3. Yes, 
a splendid fertilizer, but one-sided. On your land, add fine raw-bone 
flour — 400 pounds to the acre. 

HOW MUCH SEED POTATOES. 

J. V. C, Lysander, N. Y. — In planting potatoes for flat culture, 
how many bushels of seed are needed per acre ? 

Answer. — The above question cannot be answered definitely. 
All depends upon the size of the potato, the number of eyes to be 
planted, the number of eyes in the variety of potato and the distance 
apart. The best way to find out is to count the potatoes in a barrel, 
and multiply the number by the number of pieces each potato will 
give. Then estimate the distance apart at which '* is proposed to 
plant. If to be planted one by three feet apart, 1^,520 pieces will be 
required for an acre. 

W. G. S., Benedict, N. Y. — 1. Why have we no potato balls now ? 
Is it on account of the Colorado beetle ? 2. How do potatoes 
" mix " in the hill ? 

A?isiver. — 1. It seems to be a law of nature that as we change plants 
to our needs or "improve" ther.i as we may, they deteriorate in 
other ways. Thus double flowers are produced at the cost of 
stamens and pistils. Many fruits — apples, pears, oranges, for example 



156 The Nezv Potato Culture. 

— as they are increased in size become seedless. We grow potatoes 
for the tubers, and the plants having been propagated by tubers 
through generations, their nature is changed. We produce larger 
tubers and more of them. The energy of the plants, which genera- 
tions ago was divided between tubers and seed balls, is now directed 
towards tubers entirely. 2. Potatoes do not " mix " in the hill. It is 
impossible. Any variation in potatoes that appears in the product of 
the same seed potato, is owing to bud variation — just the same as any 
green-leaved plant is liable to produce a colored-leaved shoot. These 
are called "sports " for want of a better word. It seems probable, 
that " sports" are really the cropping out of foreign blood or owing 
to natural or artificial crossing or hybridization, the effects of which, 
though dormant for years, finally become potent through peculiar 
conditions. 

HIGH AND LOW-GRADE FERTILIZERS. 

An Old Farmer, Monroe County, N. Y. — In The Rural oi October 
25, mention is made of "low-grade" and "high-grade" fertilizers. 
I would esteem it a favor if you would tell me what I am to under- 
stand by these terms. Does the high-grade contain something that 
the low-grade does not contain, or is there more of some valuable in- 
gredient in the high-grade than in the low-grade, and if so, what is 
it ? Or is the difference due to the quality, or solubility, or availa- 
bility of the ingredients ? Please give us an illustration of a high 
and low-grade article, telling just what each contains, and the value 
and cost of each. I believe you are right, but many of my neighbors 
prefer the low-priced fertilizers. Some of them are using dissolved 
South Carolina rock phosphate, and say that it produces just as good 
results as the higher-priced article. But perhaps they are not using 
what you term a "high-grade " fertilizer. 

Answer. — Here is a forcible question — from an experienced farmer, 
too, "Why use a high-grade fertilizer?'' Because (1) it costs no 
more than a low-grade for freight. Because (2) it costs no more to 
spread it on your land. Because (3) it costs the firm that mixes it no 
more than to mix a low-grade. Because (4) the per cent, of plant- 
food ingredients is (as a rule) higher in high-grades than in low- 
grades. 



Breviiics. 157 

HOME-MIXED FERTILIZERS. 

C. S. A., Lansing, Mich. — Does it pay to buy the chemicals and 
mix them at home ?* 

Answer. — Yes and no. Nothing pays that is not managed with in- 
telligence. Itis better to buy of a reputable firm, at a fair price, a 
standard brand of fertilizer than to buy a lot of coarse chemicals and 
nitrogenous waste and to mix them hap-hazard. It is probably 
cheaper in the rush of spring work to buy factory-mixed goods than 
to stop to order chemicals in small quantities and to mix them. In 
some places, and at exceptional times, factory-mixed goods may be 
sold at prices so low as to make it altogether more profitable to buy 
them than to buy and mix fertilizer chemicals. 

On the other hand, many farmers find it much to their advantage 
to buy for cash the same fertilizer chemicals that are bought by man- 
ufacturers, and to mix them for themselves, instead of buying for cash 
the factory-mixed goods. 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES CLAIMED FOR HOME-MIXING ? 

a. It is easier to prove the quality of separate chemicals than of 
the mixture of them. It is said that it is quite beyond the chemist's 
power to certainly detect inferior forms of nitrogen, for instance, in a 
mixed fertilizer, but it is certainly very easy to detect them in sul- 
phate of ammonia, cotton-seed meal, dried blood and the like. 

b. By mixing his own fertilizers the farmer can perfectly adapt his 
fertilizer to his idea of the requirements of his land and crop, and 
any intelligent farmer is the best or only judge of these requirements. 
That opinions differ greatly as to the best mixture for any special 
crop will be very evident to any one who compares the composition of 
the leading brands of fertilizers specially designed for the potato or 
the onion crop, for instance. The chance to vary his formula and 
note the differences that result on the same field in the same year is 
worth not a little to any man who manages his farm " with ancient 
sinew and with modern art." 

c. It is easier for farmers whose land and crops are different, to 
club together and make an order for fertilizer chemicals large enough 

* I am indebted to Dr. E. H. Jenkins, of the Connecticut Experiment Station, for the 
answer to this question. 



I5§ 



The New Potato Culture. 



to secure wholesale rates, than it is to agree on one or two brands of 
factory-mixed goods which they will order in considerable quantities. 

d. Commercial fertilizers on most farms are not a substitute for 
manure, but a supplement to it, and it is often profitable to add to the 
dressing of manure only a single fertilizing ingredient, e. g., nitrogen 
to give an earlier start, phosphoric acid to favor, early ripening, or 
potash to supply a known deficiency of the soil. This can be done 
with fertilizer chemicals, not with ready-mixed fertilizers. 

e. With ordinary business care in searching the market, buying for 
cash, buying early before the usual sharp rise in chemicals takes place 
with the opening of the spring trade, mixing the chemicals on the 
days when out-of-door work cannot be done, while the help on the 
farm must be paid for just the same — under these conditions home- 
mixing has been found by many farmers to pay a large profit. Farm- 
ing can be successful only when business methods are used in every 
branch. The competition is close and the profits are small in New 
England farming, but so they are in every kind of business no less 
than in farming. The per cent, of really successful farmers is very 
small, but this is just as true of every other line of business. Care- 
ful study of the markets he buys and sells in and that he may buy 
and sell in will generally pay a farmer better than exclusive attention 
to the production of his crops. 




NDEX. 



PAGE 

Ammonia, salts alone 65 

Ashes as a fertilizer 15'2 

Beetles, picking them off 14S 

Bone, Raw 132 

Brevities 149 

Bud variation, What is known as 141 

Crops, large, wanted, use an excess of plant food 93 

Crossing-, Difficulty about 159 

Experiment Stations 42 

Eyes, blind, How to detect 144 

•• Potato 136 

•• what they are 136 

Fertilizer above or below the seed 79,153 

Chemical same as manure 133 

Complete 47 

a maximum crop 56 

constituents needed by land, How to Hud out 125 

" experiments 52 

High grade 132, 156 

How much may be profitably used 73 

ingredients, Supplying more than crops require, folly 90 

tables 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59 

under or over seed pieces 79, 153 

seed pieces, difference in favor S2 

Fertilizers alone, large crops 63 

best made up different sorts of plant food 132 

character represented in the plant 62 

chemical, a talk with farmers on 128 

commercial, Use of, money spent for food not needed SS 

Farmers should study the science of 132 

different, Effects of 69 

" " Sir J. B. Lawes' experiments 61 

" Experiments with 47 

High and low grade 132, 156 

Home mixed 157 

" •' do they pay 15S 

(i59) 



160 The New Potato Ctdture. 

PAGE 

Fertilizers, How money is thrown away on 127 

" Increased quantities, effects TO, 95 

" " " tables DC, 97 

" one-sided, low priced, Harm done by 92 

" on variable soil, Effects of different quantities 75 

" used by Mr. Minch 37 

" vs. manures for potatoes 09 

Pood, Perfect must be supplied 128 

Grafting the potato and tomato 151 

Handling 145 

Hilling-up, Objections to 149 

Hybrid between potato and alkekengi 151 

" seeds not hybrid 151 

Land impoverished, Increased quantities of fertilizer 70 

" " that needs complete fertilizer, how much to use ... 73 

" of the plots 60 

" short in nitrogen, use fertilizers with high rate nitrogen 92 

' what it requires, How to find out 125 

Lawes, Dr 42 

Lime as a preserver 145 

" superphosphate alone 65 

" to bi'ing up the land 126 

" Use of , in the soil 130 

Machinery, Digging by 146 

Manure, Concentrated and farm, better names 144 

" Farm 48 

" and chemical fertilizers, difference 134 

" " concentrated 134 

What is 133 

Manures, different, Effects of 69 

" Mineral alone, large crops 63 

Moisture, Method of conserving by Trench system 44 

Mulch, Anew, how prepared 105 

" experiments 105 

" Straw for potatoes • . . . . 56 

" Valley 105 

Nitrate of soda alone an ill-balanced fertilizer for potatoes 93 

" " " yield of potatoes 03 

" " use of, Mr. Harris' criticism ^7 

" " " " " " reply 01 

" " with corresponding supply of minerals .-92 

" " writers advocating the use of S7 

Nitrogen and phosphoric acid needed, buy nitrogen in cheapest and best form 83 

" easy to apply top dressing 99 

" effect in varying quantities 95 

Effects of 47 



Index. 161 

PAGE 

Nitrogen, Farmers not to depend upon alone 98 

" Gentle and conservative in the use of 95 

" its effects when applied alone 87 

" not more valuable than potash and phosphoric acid 96 

" only for one season 99 

" Use blended forms vt:i 

" used without regard to soil 96 

Nitrogenous manures alone, Negative result of 05 

Paris green and plaster preferred . 148 

" " water, Objections to 148 

" for potato beetles, Quantity mixed with plaster 84 

Phosphoric acid, Effects of 47 

Plants requh'e food adapted to their growth 120 

Plaster, Causes of variable effects of 152 

Poisoning 147 

Potash, Effects of 47 

Potato balls, why so few 155 

" contest, how it came about 15 

" " Judges' report 18 

plot 15 

" " " attack of flea beetles 17 

" " " notes of progress 16 

" " " previous treatment IS 

" " result 18 

" " second 20 

" " kinds planted 22 

" " " yield 22 

" " women's prizes awarded 39 

" crop, conserving moisture by trench method 44 

" " Importance of water to the 43 

" cultivation, avoid packing soil 34 

" " failures, instructive 20 

" " on a larger scale 24 

" culture, drought, to guard against. 26 

* ; " fertilizers used by Mr. Minch 37 

" " in half barrels 100 

** " " " preparation of soil, water, etc 101 

" " " " yield 102 

" " level 33 

•' " Mr. Minch's yield, how obtained 37 

" " on small plots, remarks 31 

" " yielding medium for growth 33 

" Dakota Red, large yield 40 

" Everitt, many eyes 122 

" experiments at Rothamsted in succession 64 

" " barrel in garden soil 100 



1 62 The New Potato Culture. 

PAGE 

Potato experiments, barrel in pure sand 100 

" " " % garden soil, % sand 100 

" " " " " % cut straw 100 

' " " largest yield 56 

" " on different land 52 

'• " third year's trial on different land 57 

" eyes • 136 

'• " blind, to detect 144 

" " many, growth of vine 117 

" " what they are 136 

" fertilizer experiments tables 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 5S, 59 

" fertilizers of the day too low in nitrogen 98 

" growing, cramped space for 119 

" growth 117 

" many-eyed, growth of vine 117 

" nitrogen in the juice ... 67 

" " taken up by the plant 66 

" Number of eyes a guide to planting 117 

" to plot, half acre, fertilizers used 25 

" " " mulch . . 27 

" " " Nitrogen applied 28 

" " " seed pieces 27 

" " " yield 28 

" " " of poor soil 26 

" plots land of 60 

" " which yields most 48 

" raising, usual system 119 

" seed and stem ends, absurd names 116 

" " cut to single eyes, the distance to plant • 108 

" " cylindrical pieces 112 

" " flesh to each eye for profitable crop Ill 

" " prices different number of eyes 110 

" " " sizes different 110 

" " " variously treated before planting 102 

" planting • • 137 

" Selection of 137 

" " size determined by number and vigor of eyes 120 

" " of 120 

" " whole • Ill 

" " " bad advice 122 

" seedlings care of 138 

" skins cut to single eyes Ill 

" starch in the 67 

" tests, difference between small plots and whole fields 35 

" " on small areas 34 

" tops, analyses of 124 



Index. 163 



PAGE 

Potato tops, any injury to decreases the yield 152 

" " Immense 60 

" tubers, analyses of • 123 

" yields as indicated by vines ... 59 

" " computing, method 107 

" " heavy by trench method ... • 39 

" " immense, two enemies • 24 

" " paying, to test 25 

" " Reported, doubts expressed 107 

" " startling announcements 14 

Potatoes, best yielders 154 

Different fertilizers for experiments 47 

Fertilizer over or under seed pieces 79 

Few-eyed, growth of 117 

from seed 135 

grown in variable soil, effects of different quantities of ferti- 
lizers 75 

how much seed to acre 155 

in succession for 16 years 61 

keeping 153 

mulching, a new way 105 

Experiments in mulching 105 

needs, farmer must find out 133 

never mix in the hill 136 

on same soil for 9 years, Dr. Lawes's experiments ....... 93 

" " " " 12 years 64 

planted eight inches deep 84 

" four inches deep 83 

" in four-inch trenches give largest yield 86 

" " trenches of different depths, results 83 

" ten inches deep 84 

what a crop removes from an acre 124 

yield of, nitrate of soda alone used 93 

Productiveness fixed by selection . . .141 

Seed and stem ends, absurd names 116 

" ball from Wall's Orange 136 

" balls or fruit 135 

" care of 144 

" cut to single eye, distance apart to plant 108 

" end vs. stem end 112 

" experiments with four pieces 109 

" " " one " 108 

" " " three " 109 

" " " two " 109 

" Exposing it to light and sun before planting 144 

" Fertilizer under or over, which 79 

" Flesh to each eye for most profitable crop Ill 



164 The New Potato Culture. 

PAGE 

Seed from productive hills ; should we select 140 

" how cut 49 

" " much flesh to each eye Ill 

" " prepared 57 

" pieces, different number of eyes 110 

" " distance apart in proportion to size 113 

" " cylindrical 112 

" " of potato No. 2 115 

" " sizes different 110 

" " variously treated 102 

" planting 137 

" selecting the little tubers for 142 

" selections of 137 

" size determined by number and vigor of eyes 120 

" " " " the variety 115 

" skin of the potato Ill 

" whole potatoes Ill 

" " " bad advice 122 

Seedlings, care of 138 

Soil, how to find out what it requires 125 

" natural, yield of potatoes 77 

" tests not needed 88 

" what did it need? . 52 

" " it needs, how to get at 88 

" impoverished, to lash into yielding 126 

Straw mulch, how prepared 56 

Sulphate of iron harmful .71 

Tables 73,74,75,76,85 

Trench, how to prepare 45 

" method, about our 35 

" " advantages of 36 

" " effects on of rainfall 36 

" " means of conserving moisture 44 

" " Mr. Cory's success with 40 

" " " " yield 40 

" " objections to 45 

" " origin of 13 

" " trenches 2C 

" " yield of 40 

Tubers from most productive hills 142 

" save only those from most productive hills 143 

Valley mulch 105 

Varieties from the seed 136 

Water for the potato crop 43 

Yield, promise as indicated by vines 59 

Yields, computing method 107 

" large, doubts expressed 107 



Index. 165 

INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

Mulch, Valley 105 

Potato, Blush, long-stemmed 122 

" growth without moisture and decay .... 116 

" growths 118 

•' pit and how to construct 154 

" seed lifted from a trench 117 

seedlings, first leaves 137 

" " second leaves 138 

" taken from barrel in cellar 118 

Potatoes in the hill, ideal 119 

" " trench, ideal 119 

" " " roots and tubers 121 

Seed ball of Wall's Orange potato 139 

" piece, one eye only Ill 

potatoes, cylindrical pieces 112 



^^Qs 




COVERED LAYER OF VIBURNUM, 



THE NURSERY BOOK 

A Complete Hand-Book of Propagation and Pollination. 

By L. H. BAILEY. 

Uniform in Size and Style with Rule-Book of 1890 Edition. Illustrated. 

This valuable little manual has been compiled at great pains. The author has had 
unusual facilities for its preparation, having been aided by many experts in many directions. 

The book is ab- 
solutely devoid 
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= — •» — speculation. 
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greenhouse plants, hardy herbs, ornamental trees and shrubs, forest trees. 

CONTENTS. 

Chapter I.— Seedage. Chapthr II.— Separation and IDivision. Chapter III.— 
Layerage. Chapter IV.— Cnttage. [Chapter V.— Graftage. Including Grafting, 
Budding, Inarching, etc. 

Chapter VI.— Nursery List. 

This is the great feature of the book. It has an alphabetical list of all kinds of plants, 

with a short statement telling which of the operations described in the first five chapters 

are employed in propagating them. Ower a, 000 entries are made in the list. The 

following entries will give an idea of the method : 

ACER (Mapi,ei. SapindacecB. Stocks are grown from stratified seeds, which should 
be sown an inch or two deep ; or some species, as A. dasycarpum, come readily if 
seeds are simply sown as soon as ripe. Some cultural varieties are layered, but bet- 
ter plants are obtained by grafting. Varieties of native species are worked upon 
common or native stocks. The Japanesesorts are winter- worked upon imported A. 
polymorphum stocks, eitherby whip or veneer-grafting. Maples can also be budded 
in summer, and they grow readily from cuttings of both ripe and soft wood. 

PHYLLOCACTUS, PHYLLOCEREUS, DISOCACTUS (Leaf-Cactus). Cactecr. 
Fresh seeds grow readily. Sow 111 rather sandy soil, which is well drained, and 
apply water as for common seeds. When the seedlings appear, remove to a light 
position. Cuttings from mature shoots, three to six inches in length, root readily in 
sharp sand. Give a temperature of about 6o°, and apply only sufficient water to 
keep from flagging. If the cuttings are very juicy, they may be laid on dry sand 
for several days before planting. 

GOOSEBERRY. Seeds, for the raising of new varieties should be sown as soon as 
well cured, in lo?.m or sandy soil, or they may be stratified and sown together well 
with the sand in the spring. Cuttings six to eight inches long, of the mature wood, 
inserted two-thirds their length, usually grow readily, especially if taken in August 
or September and stored during winter. Stronger plants are usually obtained by 
layers, and the English varieties are n earl v always layered in this country. Mound 
layering is usually employed, th- English varieties being allowed to remain in 
layerage two years, but the American varieties only one (Fig. 27). Layerage plants 
are usually set in nursery rows for a year after removal from the stools. Green-lay- 
ering during summer is sometimes practised for new or rare varieties. 
Chapter VII.— Pollination, giving directions for making crosses, etc. 

This book is now completed, and is on sale. Price, in library style, cloth, wide margins, 
$t ; Pocket style, paper, narrow margins, 50 cents. 

THE RURAL PUBLISHING CO., Times Building, Hew York, 



HORTICULTURIST'S RULE-BOOK, 

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BY L. H. BAILEY, 

Editor of TTte American Garden, Horticulturist of the Cornell Experiment Station and 
Professor of Horticulture in Cornell University. 



VI 
VII 



VIII 
IX. 



XII. 
XIII. 



XIV 



XV. 
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Contents of- the Book. 



Insecticides. 

Injurious insects, with preventives 
and remedies. 

Fungicides for plant diseases. 

Plant diseases, with preventives 
and remedies. 

Injuries from mice, rabbits, birds, 
etc., with preventives and reme- 
dies. 

Weeds. 

Waxes and washes for grafting and 
for wounds. 

Cements, paints, etc. 

Seed Tables: I. Quantities required 
for sowing given areas 2. Weight 
and sizeofseedsofkitchen garden 
vegetables. 3. Longevity of seeds. 
4. Time required ior kitchen gar- 
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Planting Tables: 1. Dates for sow- 
ing or setting kitchen garden veg- 
etables in different latitudes. 2. 
Tender and hardy vegetables 3. 
Usual distances apart for planting 
lruits and vegetables. 4. Number 
of plants required to set an acre 
at given distances apart. 

Maturity and Yields: 1. Time re- 
quired for the maturity of kitchen 
garden vegetables. 2. Time re- 
quired for the bearing o t fruit 
plants. 3. Longevity o! fruit plants. 
4. Average yields of various crops. 

Methods of keeping and storing 
fruits and vegetables. 

Multiplication and Propagation of 
Plants: 1. Methods ol multiplying 
plants. 3. Ways of grafting and 
budding. 3. Particular methods 
by which various fruits are propa- 
gated. 4. Stocks used for various 
fruits. 

Standard Measures and Sizes : 1 . 
Standard flowerpots. 2. Standard 
and legal measures. 3. English 
measures for saleof fruits and veg- 
etables, 

Tables of weights and measures. 
in library st\ le cloth, wide margins, $1 ; 



XVI. Miscellaneous tables, figures and 
notes: 1. Quantities of water 
held in pipes and tanks. 2. Ther- 
mometer scales. 3. Effect of wind 
in cooling glass roofs. 4. Per 
cent, oflight reflected from <;luss 
at various angles of inclination. 
5. Weights of various varieties of 
apples per bushel. 6. Amount of. 
various products yielded bv given 
quantities of fruit. 7. Labels. 8. 
Miscellany. 
XVII. Rules: 1. Loudon's rules of hor- 
ticulture. 2. Rules of nomencla- 
ture. 3. Rules for exhibition. 
XVIII, Postal rates and regulations. 

XIX. Weather signs, and protection 
from frost. 

XX. Collecting and preserving: 1. 
How to make an herbarium. 2. 
Preserving and printing of flowers 
and other parts of plants. 3. 
Keeping cut-flowers. 4. Perfum- 
ery. 5. How to collect aud pre- 
serve insects. 

XXI. Elements, symbols and analyses: 

1. The elements and their chemi- 
cal symbols. 2. Chemical com- 
position of a few common 
stances. Analyses: (a) Fruits 
and Vegetables; (*) Seeds 
Fertilizers; (c) Soils and Min- 
erals. 

XXII. Names and histories : r. Veg- 
etables which have different 
names in England and America. 

2. Derivation of names of various 
fruits and vegetables. 3. Names 
of fruits and vegetables in various 
languages. 4. Periods of culti- 
vation and native countries of cul- 
tivated plants. 

XVIII. Factsand statistics of horticulture 
and the vegetable kingdom. 

XXIV. Glossary of technical words used 

bv horticulturists. 

XXV. Calendar. 
pocket style, paper, narrow margins, SO cts. 



THE RURPL PUBLISHING CO(T]PfflIY, Tinies Building, }i. Y. 



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BY PROFESSOR L. H. BAILEY. 

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(He 





WILMER ATKINSON (Farm Journal) on the Potato Crops 
(1890) Grown with the Mapes Potato Manure : 

We have to record some astonishing results in growing large crops of potatoes with 
Mapes' Potato Manure the past season. Mr. R. A. Chisholm, Del Norte, Colorado, by the 
aid of Mapes' Manure, now so favorably known to Farm Journal readers, won the Amer- 
ican Agriculturist second prize for the season of 1S90. One thousand pounds per acre 
of the manure was used, and 847^ bushels per acre were grown. The two largest crops 
grown with barnyard manure were 434 and 375 bushels. The second largest crop ever 
grown with fertilizers from one planting on one acre, was produced in Aroostook County, 
last year, by Philo H. Reed, being 745 bushels and 25 pounds, and this also by the aid of 
Mapes' Potato Manure. The great crop* (1,031 bushels on one acre), grown in 18S9, by 
Alfred Rose, Penn Yan, N. Y., came from two plantings, each growing side by side. The 
crop which secured the first American Agriculti4>ist prize for 1890, was won by W.J. 
Sturges, of Wyoming, who produced 947 bushels and 48 pounds per acre, with irrigation 
without manure, which shows what virgin soil, rich in potash, will do. The sixth prize in 
the American Agriculturist contest the year before, was won by Mr. Nesbit, of Colorado, 
whose farm adjoins Mr. Chisholm's, who used a heavy application of stable manure only, 
his yield being; 491 bushels, or 356 bushels less per acre than Chisholm's crop grown with 
the Mapes' Manure. 

In growing Mr. Chisholm's crop, the land was marked out and drilled three inches 
deep in furrows, thirty-three and one-half inches apart with the Aspinwall Potato Planter. 
The seed was dropped by hand ten inches apart in the furrows on May 16th, making 18,- 
360 hills on the acre. Then 500 pounds of Mapes' Potato Manure was strewn by hand through 
the furrows, and, of course, directly upon the seed. Now the seed was covered two inches 
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[From the American Agriculturist, May 18th, 1888.] 

Crops of Corn, 100 Bushels and over. 

Crops of 100 bushels of shelled corn are rare, but they are not an impossibility. We 
have seen, on the farm of Mr. E. S. Carman, on Long Island, a crop of one hundred and 
thirty-four (134) bushels of shelled corn raised on one acre of land. The variety grown 
was Blount's Prolific, the soil a light sandy loam, the fertilizer used was the Mapes' Corn 
Manure, applied three or four times during the season — altogether not over one quarter of 
a ton — and the cultivation consisted of running a cultivator between the rows after every 
rain, and after the application of the fertilizer. The labor and expense bestowed upon this 
acre was not more than any intelligent farmer gives to his crop, if he expects a big yield. 
On the same farm four acres of Chester County Corn yielded eight hundred and fifty-six 
(856) bushels of corn ears, the best acre 159.37 bushels shelled corn, the poorest 63.74, aver- 
age 113.69, actual measurement. — Editors. 



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FRUIT CULTURE, embracing all branches, climates and conditions, from 
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' • FIRST FRUITS " chronicles recent happenings in the horticultural field. 

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